Is Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina injured? Premier League injury update

Manchester City's Jeremy Doku takes on Nottingham Forest's Ola Aina during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on 4 December, 2024
Ola Aina has been key for Forest this season, denying some of the league's best wingers (Image credit: Alamy)

Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina is a doubt for their upcoming game against Tottenham Hotspur, but all hope is not lost.

Few would have expected Nuno Espirito Santo to be eyeing up Champions League football with Forest at the start of this season, but that’s exactly where they are as the final day draws closer.

They come up against a stuttering Spurs side on Monday night, following Ange Postecoglou suffering another damaging league defeat, this time against fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Is Ola Aina injured for the Spurs game?

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Old Trafford on December 7, 2024 in Manchester, England.

Nuno Espirito Santo has provided an update on Aina in recent weeks (Image credit: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

The London-born Nigeria international is having a season to remember at Forest, having notched two goals and provided an assist in his 30 starts this season.

But the 28-year-old’s progress was stopped in its tracks when he went down off the ball against Manchester United and had to receive treatment on the pitch before hobbling off.

Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo punches the air in celebration following his side's win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup quarter-final match at the Amex Stadium in Falmer, UK on 29 March, 2025.

Getting Aina back could prove crucial to Forest's final Champions League push (Image credit: Alamy)

With Nuno ruling him out for ‘a while’ with a calf injury, Aina then missed following meetings with Aston Villa and Everton.

But speaking ahead of the Spurs outing, the Forest manager did provide some hope of a return for his star full-back.

Speaking to NottinghamshireLive, Nuno said: “For the next one [against Spurs], we hope.

“It is going to be assessed day by day. I don’t know how many hours he spends at the training ground receiving treatment, so we are trying to have him back as soon as possible.”

Whether he’s available to start, come in off the bench or even make the matchday squad remains to be seen.

Isaac Stacey Stronge
Freelance Writer

Isaac Stacey Stronge is a freelance football writer working for FourFourTwo, Manchester United and Football League World. He has been a season ticket holder at Stockport County throughout the Hatters’ meteoric rise from the National League North to League One and is a die-hard Paddy Madden fan.