Super Eagles Star Ruled Out for 3 Months After Suffering Injury Against South Africa
- Ola Aina will be out of action for three months due to an injury sustained during Nigeria's epic clash against South Africa
- The Nigerian international was substituted in the 10th minute of a highly physical World Cup qualifier on September 9
- Scans have confirmed that it was a significant knock, which deals a huge blow to new Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou
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Nigerian international Ola Aina has been ruled out of action for three months following the injury he suffered during their clash against South Africa.
It was a highly intense World Cup qualifier involving the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana at the Toyota Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday, September 9.
The Nottingham Forest full-back suffered a knock during the encounter and was forced out as early as the 10th minute, with Bright Osayi-Samuel replacing him.
Source: Getty Images
The 29-year-old has since returned to his base in England, and scans have shown that he could be out for months, possibly until December.
This will be a huge blow to the new head coach, Ange Postecoglou, who joined the club this summer after he was sacked at Tottenham.
Having established himself under head Nuno Espirito Santo, Ola Aina featured in all but three Premier League matches for Nottingham Forest last season.
Forest made efforts to sign new defenders during the summer transfer window, with Nicolo Savona from Juventus and Oleksandr Zinchenko joining on loan from Arsenal.
Although they also completed the deal to sign Batafogo left-back Cuiabano, the star was sent back to the Brazilian club on loan.
Losing Aina to injury is a huge blow to Postecoglou, who will also miss the services of Zinchenko during his first game in charge, as they face his parent club in the capital.
Instead, Nicolo Savona is expected to deputise at left-back, having signed from Juventus in the summer.
Although he had one year left on his contract, Aina committed his future to the English club in July when he signed a new three-year deal.
He is regarded as one of the best free transfers the club made in the modern era.
Ange Postecoglou told a press conference via Metro:
"We have a clean bill of health apart from Aina. He had a problem with the national team. We’ve sent him for some scans and we should get the results this afternoon.
"The rest of the boys, today is the first day I’ve had my eyes on them and they’re all fine. Zinchenko is the only one who isn’t fine."
Source: Getty Images
Nottingham Forest ignore Awoniyi for Europa League
Legit.ng earlier reported that Aina's international teammate Taiwo Awoniyi has been left out of Nottingham Forest’s Europa League squad, just months after recovering from a life-threatening injury.
The English club submitted their final list to UEFA, and the Nigerian forward’s name was missing.
The decision not to register Awoniyi suggests the Forest will monitor him closely in domestic matches before trusting him on the continental stage.
Source: Legit.ng
