Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has disclosed why Nigerian international Taiwo Awoniyi was missing in action in their Premier League clash against Aston Villa.

Despite being handed a rare start in their 1-0 victory against Manchester United in midweek, the Super Eagles star didn't feature in Forest's defeat against Aston Villa.

The injury ravaged Forest side started the game without a striker as they lost 2-1 to Unai Emery's side at the Villa Park on Saturday, April 6.

Goals from Donyell Malen and Morgan Rodgers ensured that Jota Silva's 57th minute strike only counted as a consolation for the Tricky Trees.

Speaking in a post-match reaction, Nuno Espirito Santo disclosed that Awoniyi has picked up a hamstring injury.

“He felt his hamstring in the game [against Manchester United]. When I spoke to you on Thursday, I already knew. I am sorry I didn’t tell you. We are going to have to assess day by day, him and Chris (Wood), to see if they can help us in the next one,” the Portuguese gaffer said in quotes relayed by Nottingham Post.

“It is day by day. He [Wood] is improving. Let’s see about the results of the scan on Taiwo Awoniyi, then we’ll have a better opinion. It is going to be assessed day by day.

“For me, football is strikers. We missed Chris, and we missed T, because the way we play and the way we do things we need a reference player. It is very hard on Anthony (Elanga), Callum (Hudson-Odoi), Jota (Silva) and (Ramon) Sosa to do the same. It is not the same,” the former Tottenham Hotspur manager concluded.