Taiwo Awoniyi reveals different positions before shifting to striker’s role

Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi has discussed his football career including his preferred position before switching to play as a striker.

Awoniyi, who turns out for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, has revealed he started playing football as a defender when he was young, and later moved to the midfield role before he eventually became a striker.

Awoniyi further explained how he landed the striker’s position.

‘I always played in different positions’

“When I was younger, I always played in different positions. I started in defence before moving into midfield and eventually to striker,” Awoniyi told Forest’s official website.

“Once, when I went to a trial, we were short of a player so I had to play as a 10 and a striker as well. I scored goals then as well, so since then I always wanted to be a centre-forward.

“Before being a forward, I wanted to be a centre-back. I always enjoyed playing there with my friends, but further down the line I wanted to be a forward and I’ve played there ever since,” he added.

‘I always wanted to play in Premier League’

On his stint with Liverpool as a youngster, Awoniyi said: “Being with Liverpool helped me be who I am today as well. Like I said, I always wanted to play in the Premier League and play in England, and by joining Liverpool, I had that opportunity.

“I was hoping to play, but it didn’t happen, so I had to go on loan, which was challenging. I had a number of loans in different countries, but it helped me to understand different cultures and different people.”

Awoniyi added: “It helped me understand more about football and experience what players can go through when they’re on loan.

“I was still young and going through it with the hope of making it in the Premier League. The loans helped me develop as a player, but after all those moves, I said to myself that that would be the last.”

So far this season, Awoniyi has made 10 Premier League appearances for Forest, scoring one goal, without an assist. He signed for Forest on a five-year deal from Union Berlin.

He scored his first Premier League goal in a 1-0 win against West Ham United, and later scored the winning goal in a 1-0 home victory against former club Liverpool.