Ola Aina is a major doubt for Nottingham Forest ahead of their Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa, as injury concerns continue to trouble the squad, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
- +Aina doubtful for Villa’s Europa League clash
The Nigerian full-back was absent as Forest secured a 3-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea on Monday, a result which lifted them six points clear of the relegation zone with three matches remaining.
The Nigerian full-back was absent as Forest secured a 3-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea on Monday, a result which lifted them six points clear of the relegation zone with three matches remaining.
However, the win came at a cost, with several key players either sidelined or forced off through injury.
Head coach Vitor Pereira has been managing a growing list of unavailable players in recent weeks, with Aina among those yet to return.
The defender’s situation remains uncertain, with no clear timeline provided for his recovery as the team prepares for a crucial European fixture tomorrow.
Providing an update ahead of the game, Pereira indicated that Aina remains unavailable alongside several other first-team players, underlining the scale of the injury crisis affecting his squad.
“They are injured. We are without Callum and without Dan Ndoye, two wingers. We are without Murillo and before we were without Jair. Jair had and still has a problem but he is a fighter. We are without Sangare and without Ola,” he said as quoted by Nottinghamshire Live.
Forest have already been without winger Callum Hudson-Odoi for the remainder of the season, while Murillo, Dan Ndoye and Ibrahim Sangare are also sidelined.
Although defender Jair Cunha returned to action after missing the first leg against Villa, further setbacks saw Zach Abbott withdrawn due to a concussion and Morgan Gibbs-White suffer a facial injury during the Chelsea clash.
Pereira admitted that the number of absentees has simplified his team selection, while praising the squad’s unity in navigating the difficult period.
“In the end, for me, it was not difficult to select the first XI because I don’t have solutions. If I don’t have solutions, I don’t need to think a lot. We are doing well because of the spirit (in the team),” he added.
“I don’t know how many injured players I have. And now we have Morgan. I hope he can come (on Thursday).’
“Even without these important players, we keep the spirit. This is the difference between being a team, because this is not about tactical things; this is about team spirit,” he added.
Forest will head into Thursday’s decisive clash in the West Midlands holding a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg, but Aina’s potential absence represents a significant concern as they aim to secure a place in the final.
