Taiwo Awoniyi will begin his Coventry City career with little time to settle as the newly promoted club face a daunting return to the Premier League against reigning champions Arsenal.
Coventry are back in the top flight after a 25-year absence, having stormed to the Championship title last season, but their opening assignment at the Emirates immediately underlines the scale of the challenge awaiting Frank Lampard’s side.
It is precisely why Lampard believes Awoniyi’s experience of Premier League football could prove invaluable.
The Nigerian joined Coventry from Nottingham Forest for around £9m after four seasons at the City Ground, and Lampard sees the 29-year-old’s power, strength and ability to hold the ball up as qualities that can help the Sky Blues compete at the highest level.
“When you look across our recruitment idea, we wanted to bring in Premier League experience. Power and strength, a player that can hold the ball up and I think he is very valuable,” Lampard said.
That becomes particularly significant for a Coventry side stepping into a division where they will regularly face opponents with greater resources and, in Arsenal’s case, a team beginning its title defence after winning the league last season.
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Lampard also believes Coventry have signed a player motivated by a desire for more regular football.
Awoniyi’s opportunities became increasingly limited towards the end of his Forest spell, prompting his decision to move on after four seasons.
“There is a reason why Taiwo left Nottingham Forest and came to us. We really like him and hope he’s going to be great for us,” Lampard said.
The Coventry boss believes that frustration can work in the striker’s favour.
“I like a player that is hungry to play and get his minutes; of course, we have to look after him and prepare him. But I like a player that wants to be the man and play more minutes.”
That hunger could be tested immediately at the Emirates, where Coventry face an Arsenal side that finished seven points clear at the top last season and have won all three of their previous Premier League season openers as reigning champions.
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Meanwhile Awoniyi is not short of ambition about what he wants to contribute to the club.
“I think for sure goals. Like I said, goals and hard work as well,” he said.
The Nigerian has 23 goals in 103 appearances for Forest in all competitions, including 11 during his first campaign, when his goals helped the club avoid relegation and reach the Carabao Cup semi finals.
He also featured in the Forest team that finished seventh in the 2024/25 season and secured European football.
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