Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has revealed that Super Eagles defender Ola Aina could make his long-awaited return from injury when Forest take on Aston Villa in this weekend’s Premier League clash.
Aina has been sidelined since September after sustaining a severe hamstring injury during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against South Africa. The setback required surgery, ruling him out for several months and necessitating an extensive rehabilitation program.
His absence has been keenly felt, as Aina missed 23 matches for Forest and was unavailable for Nigeria during the final World Cup qualifying round, the playoffs, and the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Reports in mid-December indicated that Aina had resumed full training with Forest and even featured for the club’s junior side to regain match fitness. Sources within the club suggest he is ready for competitive action once more.
Ahead of the Villa game, Dyche confirmed that Aina is back in contention for a place in the matchday squad.
“Obviously Ola comes back into the group, which is good,” Dyche told the Nottingham Post. “I am learning about him. I know he is a good character. I managed teams that have played against him, so I’m familiar with the pace and power he possesses. We are looking forward to getting him back involved. He is in contention to return to the group. He has put a lot of miles on the clock in training, not so many game hours, because of the situation. But his injury is fine, he feels fine, he is back in the group.”
While a starting spot seems unlikely immediately, Aina could feature from the bench as Forest carefully manage his return. His absence has been felt at right-back, particularly due to his pace, strength in one-on-one situations, and quality deliveries from wide areas.
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