Nottingham Forest defender Serge Aurier has lauded the form of teammate Taiwo Awoniyi also stating that his return from injury has come at the right time as they hope to avoid relegation at the end of the season.

Awoniyi has scored four goals in his last two league appearances for the club with one resulting in a 4-3 win over Southampton while his other brace helped secure Forest an important 2-2 draw against Chelsea at the Stamford bridge. 

Those results have seen Forest go two points off the relegation zone. 

The 25-year-old missed three months of football due to a groin injury with his absence greatly affecting the performance of the side who had to go nine games without a proven striker. After his return, he struggled, failing to find the back of the net in seven games but that has changed in the last two games. 

“We missed him when he got injured for three months with a groin strain,” Aurier told the Guardian speaking of the importance of the Nigeria international “but now he’s back and we need to keep him in the team.”

Forest’s next league game will be against Arsenal who although have lost out on winning the Premier League but will be hoping to finish strong by winning their last two league games. 

Although the game will be played at the City Ground, the hosts would be wary of the Gunners who are statistically the best team on the road having recorded 12 away wins, three draws and just three losses from 18 games.

The first leg had ended 5-0 in favour of the Gunners at the Emirates but Aurier believes they can get a positive result if they stick together.