Forest coach gives fresh update on Ola Aina's injury

Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche has provided a fresh injury update on Super Eagles defender Ola Aina, explaining that they were carefully easing his back.

 Aina has been sidelined since early September after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for Nigeria in a 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa. 

He was forced off in the 10th minute of the match and needed surgery. The injury has since kept him out of action and effectively ruled him out of the African Cup of Nations 2025 finals in Morocco.

He had already featured in only three Premier League appearances for Forest this season before being sidelined, and his absence has disrupted Forest’s defensive structure, forcing Sean Dyche to reshuffle at right-back and lean on replacements like Nicolo Savona and Neco Williams. 

Forest boss Sean Dyche has been consistent with his messaging around Aina’s injury. He cautioned that because of the nature of his hamstring problem, he would not be available for selection until January. 

Dyche said Aina is about halfway through his recovery and has even played with Forest’s U21 side as part of his return to full fitness, but the club are being careful given the risk of re-injury after surgery.

“He’s halfway through his recovery. He’s training more regularly with the team, but we’re being careful with him because of the nature of his injury.”