Nottingham Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi placed in induced coma - reports - ESPN

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been placed in an induced coma after undergoing «urgent» surgery on an abdominal injury, according to multiple British reports on Tuesday.

The Nigeria international was injured when he collided with the goal frame after coming on as a second-half substitute during the 2-2 draw against Leicester on Sunday.

The injury was the subject of a heavily debated on-field discussion between the club's manager and owner.

Awoniyi was placed in an induced coma to aid his recovery from Monday's operation by helping to restrict his movement and regulate his heart rate, Britain's PA news agency reported. The second part of his surgery is scheduled to completed on Wednesday, according to the BBC.

Forest had released a statement after Awoniyi's surgery, saying he was «recovering well.» The team has two games left in the Premier League — at West Ham and at home to Chelsea — as they seek to qualify for the Champions League.

After the game against Leicester, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis entered the field and remonstrated with manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Espirito Santo said Marinakis was frustrated because of a miscommunication between the bench and medical staff after the injury to Awoniyi.

After receiving treatment, the 27-year-old striker signaled he was OK to continue so Espirito Santo left him on and immediately made his final substitution, taking off Elliot Anderson for Jota Silva in the first minute of stoppage time.

However, Awoniyi was in discomfort for the rest of the game, effectively leaving Forest down to 10 players and hampering its hopes of a winner.

In its statement, Forest said Marinakis' post-match reaction «was one of deep care, responsibility, and emotional investment in one