Nottingham Forest head coach, Nuno Espírito Santo, has confirmed that Ola Aina faces an indefinite spell on the sidelines following a calf injury, with no specific return date set.
Speaking on the injury setback, Nuno revealed that Aina will undergo further assessments to determine the extent of the problem.
“It’s always tricky when it comes to a calf injury,” Nuno explained. “We need to give him time. There’s no clear timeline at the moment — it all depends on how well he responds to treatment. Some players recover faster than others, so we’ll have to wait and see.”
The Portuguese manager further added: “He will definitely miss the games against Aston Villa and Everton. Beyond that, we’ll continue to monitor him. I remain hopeful that he will be back before the season ends.”
Nottingham Forest later confirmed internally that Aina had sustained a calf strain, though the club stopped short of providing an estimated recovery period.
Nuno didn’t hide his disappointment over the injury, describing Aina’s absence as a “big blow” for the team.
“He’s already had the scan, and unfortunately, he’ll be out for a while,” Nuno said. “It’s tough for us because we will miss his quality, his versatility, and the chemistry he has built with the rest of the squad. His presence on the pitch has been crucial.”
Next up for Nottingham Forest is a tough away fixture against high-flying Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday. Villa, under Unai Emery, have been one of Europe’s form teams, winning their last six games across all competitions.
While Villa’s attention may partly shift toward their upcoming UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie against Paris Saint-Germain, which could see Emery rotate his squad, Aina’s absence remains a significant concern for Forest as they look to strengthen their push for a European spot.
The Nigerian defender’s injury is another frustrating setback in a season where he had appeared to put his previous fitness issues behind him, becoming a consistent performer for Forest.
As Forest continue their battle to secure a top-four Premier League finish — with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Newcastle in the race — both fans and teammates will be eagerly awaiting positive news on Aina’s recovery.
