Dyche Confirms Ola Aina’s Return to Nottingham Forest Squad Ahead of Aston Villa Clash
Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has confirmed that Super Eagles defender Ola Aina is back in contention for selection ahead of his side’s Premier League encounter against Aston Villa this weekend, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The Nigerian international has been sidelined for several months after suffering an injury that not only disrupted his club season but also ruled him out of the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Friday, Dyche revealed that Aina has made encouraging progress in training and has now fully rejoined the Forest squad, offering a timely boost to the team’s defensive options.
“Obviously Ola (Aina) comes back into the group, which is good,” Dyche said. “He has put a lot of miles on the clock on the training ground, not so many game hours because of the situation. But his injury is fine, he feels fine, and he is back into the group.”
Aina’s return is significant for Nottingham Forest, who have struggled with defensive consistency at different stages of the season. Known for his versatility, pace, and ability to operate across the backline, the former Chelsea and Torino defender gives Dyche added flexibility as Forest prepare for a demanding fixture against an in-form Aston Villa side.
Beyond club level, the update will also be welcomed by Nigerian fans and the Super Eagles’ technical crew. After missing AFCON 2025 due to injury, Aina’s recovery places him in a strong position to be considered for future international assignments, provided he regains full match fitness and form in the Premier League.
Forest will assess Aina’s readiness in the final build-up to the weekend fixture, with Dyche expected to manage his minutes carefully as the defender eases back into competitive action.
Oluwayemi Omolagba
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