Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has made his long-awaited return to competitive action for Nottingham Forest following a lengthy injury layoff.
The 29-year-old featured from the start in Forest’s 3–1 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday at Villa Park, marking his first appearance for the club since August.
Aina had been sidelined after sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria during their clash against South Africa on September 8, 2025.
The injury kept the versatile full-back out of action for several months, raising concerns over his fitness and availability.
Against Aston Villa, Aina showed encouraging signs on his return, putting in a solid shift before being withdrawn in the 69th minute.
He was replaced by Nicolo Savona as Forest looked to manage his minutes following the long absence.
His return is a significant boost for both Nottingham Forest and the Super Eagles, as Aina is expected to play a key role going forward if he maintains full fitness.
