Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has confirmed that Super Eagles defender Ola Aina could make his long-awaited return from injury for the club’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Aina has been sidelined since suffering a serious hamstring problem in September 2025 while on international duty with Nigeria, an injury that required surgery and kept him out of competitive action for months.
Dyche revealed that Aina has returned to training with the first-team squad and is back in contention for selection, although the full-back is more likely to begin on the bench as he regains match sharpness.
The impending fixture pits Forest against a Villa side eager to respond after a heavy defeat, while the Tricky Trees seek momentum to improve their league standing with the help of returning key players.
Editorial
There was a time not so long ago when Nottingham Forest’s post-war narrative felt out of step with the high tempo and high stakes of the modern Premier League. Yet here we are, on the cusp of a Midlands encounter that feels as pivotal as any in their recent history, catalysed by the possible return of Ola Aina — a player whose trajectory embodies resilience as much as athleticism.
Injuries are the cruel punctuation marks in a footballer’s story, and Aina’s lengthy lay-off since that hamstring rupture in September read like a forced intermission. Rehabilitation, especially after surgery, is a test of more than physical fitness; it probes patience, mental strength and conviction in one’s own métier.
That Dyche has cautiously welcomed him back into the fold, sighting training involvement and squad availability rather than hasty match minutes, speaks volumes about professional prudence. Premier League life is seldom forgiving of rust, but players of Aina’s calibre quick in transition, tenacious in duels, and gifted with crossing precision are assets worth nurturing back into the fray with care.
Forest’s league campaign has been a terrain of peaks and valleys, and this match against Villa represents more than three points on a table; it is about revival. Villa arrive buoyed by strong home form but smarting from recent setbacks, while Forest must reconcile recent struggles with the undimmed hope kindled by returning talent.
In football’s unforgiving calendar, setbacks are relentless but so too are opportunities for renewal. Aina’s potential cameo is not merely an update on a fitness sheet it is a narrative marker in a club’s enduring pursuit of stability and progress under pressure.
Did You Know?
- Lengthy Lay-Off Aina missed 23 consecutive matches for Nottingham Forest due to the hamstring injury sustained while on international duty.
- Surgery Required The severity of his initial injury was such that it required surgery, contributing to his extended absence from club action.
- Forest’s Defensive Issues Nottingham Forest have failed to score in 10 Premier League matches this season, the joint-highest in the league, highlighting the importance of attacking contributions from defenders like Aina.
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Villa Home Dominance Aston Villa have won their last 10 home games in all competitions, making Villa Park a particularly challenging venue for visiting sides.
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Historical H2H Villa are unbeaten in their last six Premier League home encounters with Forest, winning the last five in succession — a run stretching back decades.
