Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has confirmed that Super Eagles right-back Ola Aina could make his long-awaited return from injury for this weekend’s Premier League match against Aston Villa.
Aina has been sidelined since September after suffering a serious hamstring injury during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against South Africa. The setback required surgery and an extended rehabilitation period, keeping him out of action for several months.
His absence was strongly felt, as he missed 23 matches for Forest and was unavailable for Nigeria during the final World Cup qualifying fixtures, the playoff round, and the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
By mid-December, reports indicated that Aina had resumed full training with Forest and even played for the club’s junior side to regain match sharpness. Sources within the club now suggest he is ready to return to competitive action.
Speaking ahead of the Villa game, Dyche confirmed that Aina has rejoined the senior squad and is back in contention for the matchday lineup.
“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 role may not come immediately, Aina could feature from the bench as Forest carefully manage his reintegration. His absence at right-back has been noticeable, particularly given his speed, strength in one-on-one situations, and the quality of his deliveries from wide positions.
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