With only 23 minutes into the game Mainz forward Taiwo Awoniyi was stretchered off in his side’s clash against Augsburg in Sunday’s Bundesliga game after suffering a serious injury.
The Nigerian 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 Jean-Philippe 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% 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.
Awoniyi joined Liverpool in the summer of 2015 after his fine showings at the 2013 U17 World Cup, where he scored four goals in the competitions to help Nigeria win the title.
The Imperial Soccer Academy graduate is, however, yet to feature in the Premier League for the Reds since joining the side, having spent most of his time on loan.
The forward has played for FSV Frankfurt in Germany, NEC in the Netherlands, Royal Excel Mouscron and Gent in Belgium before teaming up with Mainz.
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
The families of Nigeria's U-23 ace, Taiwo Awoniyi will be full of thanks to Bundesliga referee Marco Fritz who immediately reacted and called the doctors for help after the Mainz05 striker suffered a concussion following head head collision in an aerial challenge with Augsburg defender Uduokhai.
Pictures showed how the referee tried to prevent Awoniyi from swallowing his own tongue. Play was stopped as it took the medics minutes to revive him. He later came off a stretcher and rushed to hospital.
The club announced Sunday evening that the Nigerian would be spending the night at the hospital.
'Our striker Taiwo #Awosends Niyi suffered a concussion in his collision with @FCA_World's Felix #Uduokhai and is spending the night in hospital as a precautionary measure. Get well soon, Taiwo! 🙏.'
It was cheery news later after the club confirmed that Awoniyi is now stable.
"We have received the all-clear from the doctors. Awoniyi is conscious again, can remember the things that happened. He had a severe concussion and had to stay in the hospital for observation," said FSV coach Achim Beierlorzer.
However the Nigerian born Augsburg defender showed his concerns after he sent a get well soon message to the injured Nigerian Awoniyi.
Uduokhai born to a Nigerian father and German mother after game said: 'Get well soon #Awoniyi! I hope it's nothing worse and he's fine.'
Mainz 05 lost the German Bundesliga match-day 31 to Augsburg with an early goal from Niederlechsner.
The 22-year-old who is spending the season on loan at Mainz has scored once in seven games this campaign will be monitored by doctors before he is released in the coming days.
Recall last week, Mainz director Rouven Schroder revealed they're in talks to keep hold of Awoniyi.
“I am very, very positive about him," he told Bild.
"Taiwo never let himself down, always had his head up and the absolute will to improve was never negative. It is a symbol of how team sport works.
"We are in an exchange with Liverpool, that is an open position. We are now waiting for the last games. Then we'll see what the next steps are."