Nottingham Forest manager gives update on Awoniyi and Ola Aina’s injury ahead of Liverpool clash

Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has provided a crucial fitness update on several key players, including Nigerian internationals Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina.

The Tricky Trees prepare to face Liverpool this Saturday, as both teams look to get back to their best following some bad weeks.

Forest, currently 19th in the Premier League, are desperate for points to climb out of the relegation zone. 

The Liverpool side have also been struggling for form, having lost four of their last five matches across all competitions.

Dyche’s injury update 

Speaking to the press, Dyche confirmed that while some players are nearing a return, others remain unavailable. Callum Hudson-Odoi is the most likely to feature against Liverpool after rejoining team training.

"Callum Hudson-Odoi has made good progress," Dyche stated. "He’s been on the grass with us this week, so he is certainly in consideration to be in the squad, which is better news."

Regarding other injured players, the manager offered mixed news. He noted that defenders Ola Aina and Oleksandr Zinchenko are making progress but are not yet training with the main group. 

"Ola Aina is very similar," Dyche said, indicating his recovery is on par with others still working with the medical staff.

Striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who has made substitute appearances in Forest's last three games, has suffered a setback with a knee issue and will miss the upcoming fixture.

"Unfortunately, he has now picked up a bit of an injury, and we will see how that settles down," Dyche explained. 

"It is just a settling period, it is nothing too serious, it is a grumbling knee. It is serious enough to stop him from loading it... but it is settling down."

Awoniyi has featured in just four league matches this season, while Aina has been out of action since September with a hamstring problem.