Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina will miss this weekend’s Premier League match against Aston Villa due to a calf injury but could be available for selection when his team faces Everton on April 12.
Head coach Nuno Espírito Santo confirmed that the Nigeria international sustained the injury during Forest’s recent game against Manchester United and will not recover in time for the trip to Villa Park.
The 28-year-old had started every Premier League game this season, but his absence will bring that streak to an end. Despite the setback, Nuno remains hopeful that Aina’s recovery will be swift and that he could return to action soon.
“It is always difficult when it is a calf injury, we have to give him time. We do not have an exact time schedule, it is all about his ability to recover,” said Nuno in his pre-match press conference.
“Some players take more time, others less. We will assess him. He will definitely be out for Villa and for Everton he will be a doubt. Beyond that we will assess him. I am positive that we will see him again (before the end of the season).
Aina underwent a scan, which confirmed that he would be out for a period, though the exact duration remains uncertain.
Nuno acknowledged that his absence would be a significant loss for the team.
“He has had the scan and he is going to be out for a while. It is a big blow. We will miss his quality, his talent and the routines we already have with his teammates. We are going to miss him.”
Forest’s defensive problems are further complicated by the unavailability of Alex Moreno, who is on loan from Aston Villa and therefore ineligible to play against his parent club.
Additionally, Eric Moreira, another defensive option, is still recovering from an injury and may not be fully fit.
