Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery on an abdominal injury he sustained during the 2-2 draw with Leicester.
Awoniyi, 27, collided with the post in the final minutes at the City Ground on Sunday and decided to play on after receiving several minutes of treatment.
The full extent of the injury was only discovered by club medical staff on Monday and the Nigeria international was hospitalised for an urgent procedure.
Awoniyi had stretched to intercept Anthony Elanga’s cross and was in visible discomfort after sliding into the foot of the post, an incident which left Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis furious with Nuno Espirito Santo.
Awoniyi required around three minutes of treatment but could not be substituted after Forest used their last available window to replace Elliot Anderson with Jota Silva.
Nuno said: ‘It was disappointing for everybody.
‘Unfortunately, we had to play the last 10 minutes with one man less.
Taiwo gave it a go but it was too painful for him to really push and help the team. There was a misunderstanding between the coaching staff and the medical department.
‘We had the heads up to make a sub, then Taiwo tried but he could not [run fully].
‘[We feel] disappointment and frustration of course. But it is because of the owner and his passion that we are growing as a club. He pushes us.
‘He wants us to be better. It is his passion and desire to be a big club.
30,000 people felt the same today. For sure, many of them would go on the pitch and shake us down. Us as a club, we owe a lot to the Marinakis family.’
Marinakis concurred, adding: ‘Today is a day for celebration, because after 30 years Nottingham Forest is now guaranteed to be competing on the European stage once again – a promise I made to our supporters when we achieved promotion!’
‘Everybody – coaching staff, players, supporters, and including myself – we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgment on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game. This is natural.
‘This is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club.
‘Let’s all be grateful, passionate and keep on dreaming!’