Nottingham Forest FC Sweat Over Fitness of Ola Aina Ahead of Europa League Semi-Final Second Leg

Nottingham Forest FC Sweat Over Fitness of Ola Aina Ahead of Europa League Semi-Final Second Leg

By Admin 

Ola Aina remains a major injury doubt for Nottingham Forest FC ahead of their Europa League semi-final second-leg encounter against Aston Villa FC, with the club continuing to battle an extensive injury crisis.

The Nigerian international was absent on Monday as Forest recorded an impressive 3-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea FC, a result that moved them six points clear of the relegation zone with three matches left in the season.

Despite the important win, Forest’s injury problems deepened further, with several first-team players unavailable or forced off during the encounter.

Head coach Vitor Pereira has been dealing with a growing list of absentees in recent weeks, and Aina remains among those yet to recover fully. The club has not provided a definite timeline for the defender’s return ahead of Thursday’s crucial European fixture.

Speaking before the match, Pereira confirmed that Aina is still sidelined alongside a number of key players.

“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,” Pereira said, according to Nottinghamshire Live.

Forest are already without Callum Hudson-Odoi for the remainder of the season, while Murillo, Dan Ndoye and Ibrahim Sangaré also remain unavailable through injury.

Although defender Jair Cunha returned after missing the first leg against Villa, Forest suffered additional setbacks during the Chelsea victory. Zach Abbott was forced off with a concussion, while Morgan Gibbs-White sustained a facial injury.

Pereira acknowledged that the injury situation has limited his selection options but praised the squad’s resilience and unity during a difficult spell.

 “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 said.

Forest will travel to the West Midlands holding a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first leg as they attempt to secure a place in the Europa League final. However, Aina’s likely absence represents a significant concern given his importance to the team’s defensive structure and attacking balance.

Pereira also admitted that the number of injuries has simplified his team selection decisions.

 “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.”