Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche provided an update on Ola Aina's fitness ahead of the Premier League clash with Fulham.

Dyche faced the cameras on Thursday afternoon, addressing various topics, including the recovery of Nigeria international Ola Aina. 

The Chelsea academy graduate will not take part in his fourth consecutive Africa Cup of Nations after being omitted from the final 28-man squad announced by the Nigeria Football Federation last week.

Aina sustained a hamstring injury during the opening minutes of Nigeria's 1-1 draw with South Africa in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in September, which required surgery. 

The injury has kept him out of action for the past twenty matches across all competitions.

Although nearing a return to full fitness, the Super Eagles fullback will not be eligible to play for Forest until January as he was not registered for the Premier League squad following his long-term injury. 

To aid his recovery, Aina was included in Nottingham Forest's U21 side for a Premier League Cup match against Millwall, completing roughly an hour on the pitch without incident.

Providing a squad update at the start of his press conference, Sean Dyche said: "Ola is halfway through his progress in fitness, training more regularly with the team now, so that is good. Obviously, it's been a long-term injury, so we have to be careful with that one".

Ola Aina will be hoping to make his comeback on January 3, 2026 when Nottingham Forest face Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel