Nigeria defender Ola Aina made his long-awaited return to competitive football on Saturday, featuring for Nottingham Forest in their 3–1 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park after three months on the sidelines.
Aina had been out of action since September 2025 after suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria. Although he resumed full training in November, Forest manager Sean Dyche adopted a cautious approach, delaying his return and ruling him out of the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 29-year-old was named in Forest’s matchday squad for the trip to Villa Park and handed a starting role, a decision that represented a measured gamble given his lengthy absence from competitive football.
Deployed at right-back, Aina played 69 minutes before being replaced by Nicolò Savona. Forest spent large periods under pressure, but the defender showed signs of sharpness despite the result.
He registered nine defensive actions, including two tackles, three interceptions, and four clearances. Aina was beaten once in a one-on-one situation and won two of his five ground duels.
On the ball, he completed seven of his 11 passes, created one key chance, and recorded an expected assists figure of 0.01, reflecting a steady contribution in possession.
Aina was involved at both ends during the second half, going close in attack before Aston Villa pulled clear to seal the victory—a result that lifted Unai Emery’s side to second place in the Premier League table.
