NIGERIAN forward Taiwo Awoniyi has been one of the standout forwards in Europe this season, becoming a regular on the scoresheet in Germany and in the Europa Conference League.

In Europe’s top five leagues, only Robert Lewandowski, Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland and Karim Benzema have more goals than Awoniyi’s 10 in all competitions so far this season.

The 24-year-old spent six years on the books of Liverpool FC but failed to make an appearance for the club due to problems gaining a permit to work in Britain.

During that period, he went out on loan to a total of seven different clubs and it was the last of these — to Bundesliga side Union Berlin — that gave him a real sense of belonging and a place to show his talents on a weekly basis.

As it turned out, new work permit rules in English football following Brexit meant Awoniyi could have finally played for Liverpool had they opted to include him in their squad this season.

Instead, though, he made a permanent move to Union Berlin for £6.5 million, and it’s one that has worked out well for the player and his new club.

The transfer meant Awoniyi was able to continue where he left off in his familiar surroundings in the German capital.

He had played a big part in Union’s impressive 2020-21 season, scoring five goals and adding three assists.

It was only the club’s second Bundesliga campaign, having been promoted to the top division for the first time in 2019, but they managed to finish seventh, earning themselves a spot in the Europa Conference League play-off round.

Awoniyi scored two and assisted another in the first leg of that playoff against Finnish side KuPS which they eventually won 4-0 on aggregate, and he’s already scored two more in a group which includes Slavia Prague, Feyenoord and Maccabi Haifa.

Union sit bottom of their Conference League group on goal difference having won one game, at home to Maccabi Haifa, but their presence in Continental competition is a big achievement in itself given relegation was predicted for them after their promotion to the Bundesliga.

Awoniyi has already surpassed his goal tally from last season, scoring seven in nine league appearances so far, adding one in the DFB Pokal (German Cup) to go with the couple he’s scored in the Conference League group stage.

If you include goals scored in the playoff to qualify for that European competition, he has a total of 12 in 16 games so far this season.

He and his teammates will no doubt have been buoyed by the return of fans to the club’s Stadion An der Alten Forsterei this season. They are a big factor behind Union’s recent success, and the club is 100 per cent supporter-run.

Awoniyi’s form and regular playing time has led to a first Nigeria senior international call-up and he made his debut for his country in a World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic earlier this month.

Nigeria are currently blessed with some of the best forwards in world football. Along with Awoniyi taking his first steps in the international game, they also have another of the standout strikers in Europe to call upon — Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.

You can add the impressive Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho to this list, as well as 22-year-old Lorient forward Terem Moffi, Watford’s Emmanuel Dennis and towering Genk centre forward Paul Onuachu.

Nigeria are in a good position at the top of their 2022 World Cup qualifying group and look set to advance to the third round and, given their strike power, will be confident going into the Africa Cup of Nations tournament set to begin in January in Cameroon.

Union, meanwhile, face the biggest test for any German team when they welcome Bayern Munich to the Alten Forsterei this afternoon.

The German champions will be reeling off the back of a 5-0 DFB Pokal exit at the hands of Borussia Monchengladbach during the week and will no doubt be looking to return to winning ways in the league.

But Union were unbeaten against Bayern last season, drawing both games 1-1.

With the fans back behind them, they will be looking to cause an upset. If they manage to do so, Awonyi is more than likely to be the name on the scoresheet.