By Nurudeen Obalola
Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi showed up looking healthy on Sunday and took in the applause at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest hosted Chelsea in the final English Premier League fixture of the season.
Awoniyi recently suffered a horrific injury after crashing into the post and had to undergo abdominal surgery, with an induced coma part of the process.
The Nigeria international, dressed in casual wear, was not part of the Nottingham Forest squad for the day as they were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea through Levi Colwill’s 50th minute strike.
With the result, Forest ended the campaign in seventh spot, missing out on the UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea finished fourth, just behind Manchester City, who defeated Fulham 2-0 at Craven Cottage.
The fifth Champions League spot was secured by Newcastle United despite a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Everton.
Aston Villa also lost 2-0 at Manchester United and missed out on the Champions League, although they finished sixth and will play in the UEFA Europa League next season.
Forest will play in the UEFA Europa Conference League next season courtesy of their seventh place finish.
In another result on Sunday, champions Liverpool came from behind to draw 1-1 at home with FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, with Mohamed Salah scoring his 29th goal of the season, the most in the league.
Arsenal cemented their second place with a 2-1 victory at relegated Southampton, while Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur were thrashed 4-1 at home by Brighton.
RESULTS
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea
Fulham 0-2 Manchester City
Manchester United 2-0 Aston Villa
Newcastle 0-1 Everton
Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace
Southampton 1-2 Arsenal
Bournemouth 2 – 0 Leicester
Wolves 1-1 Brentford
Ipswich 1-3 West Ham
Tottenham 1-4 Brighton
