Awoniyi rushed to hospital after collision with Augsburg’s Uduokhai
BUNDESLIGA club, Mainz 05, said Nigerian winger, Taiwo Awoniyi, on loan from Liverpool, was taken to hospital for checks after suffering a serious head injury in yesterday’s relegation battle at home to Augsburg, reports AFP.
The 22- year- old was briefly motionless after landing awkwardly following a clash of heads with Augsburg Nigerian defender, Felix Uduokhai, in the first- half.
Awoniyi was stretchered off with his neck in a brace after a long delay while he received medical attention on the pitch. Mainz said Awoniyi was responsive and had been taken to hospital for tests. Awoniyi, who was part of the Nigeria team, which won the Under- 17 W orld Cup in 2013, joined Liverpool in 2015.
He has yet to make an appearance for Jurgen Klopp’s Reds and has had loan spells at German side FSV Frankfurt, Dutch team NEC and Belgium sides Royal Excel Mouscron and Gent.
With both Augsburg and Mainz just above the relegation places, the visitors took the lead after less than a minute when a volley by Augsburg striker Florian Niederlechner hit the ground and bounced over the Mainz goalkeeper.
The Nigerian striker was forced off in the encounter with only 23 minutes into the game after he suffered an injury The Nigeria youth international was afforded his fourth start by manager Achim Beierlorzer and 11th league appearance since teaming up with the 05ers last summer from Premier League side Liverpool.
The forward was handed a wing- role in the encounter partnering Levin Mete Oztunali, Robin Quaison and JeanPhilippe Mateta upfront. The 22- year- old aimed to play a key role in his side’s quest to build on last weekend’s five- star performance, where they returned to winning ways with a 2- 0 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt. However, he suffered a nasty collision in the 23rd minute and was taken to hospital.
Awoniyi took one shot in the encounter, which was blocked and had a 75 per cent pass success rate before the injury incident which saw him replaced by Karim Onisiwo.
The forward will be expected to undergo a further test to determine the nature of his injury and the duration he will be sidelined from action.
The 22- year- old has only found the back of the net once against Köln for the Opel Arena outfit in this campaign.
Mainz are currently three places above the relegation zone after winning nine games, drawing four and losing 18 which saw them gather 31 points from 31 games.
The 05ers finished 12th on the Bundesliga table in the 2018- 19 season and will hope to avoid the drop from the top- flight at the end of this campaign.