After three months away from action, Ola Aina is back in Nottingham Forest’s starting line-up, and for the Nigerian defender, the focus has shifted sharply from individual milestones to the bigger picture of the club’s survival push, Zoyols Blog reports.
Aina returned to first-team training in December 2025 and marked his competitive comeback in the Premier League clash against Aston Villa on Saturday, January 3. The setback that kept him out was sustained while he was on international duty with Nigeria in September, ruling him out during a crucial stretch of the season.
Now fully fit again, the defender has featured in three matches since his return, bringing his league appearances this season to six. Rather than dwelling on lost time or personal numbers, Aina says his mindset is firmly fixed on helping Forest finish the campaign on a strong note.
He explained that his outlook has changed, admitting that personal targets have taken a back seat. According to him, the priority is how he and his teammates can contribute collectively, stressing that the most important thing now is what the squad can achieve together rather than individual achievements.
Forest’s league position underlines the urgency of that approach. After 22 matches, the Tricky Trees have picked up an equal number of points and sit just one place above the relegation zone. Inconsistency has plagued their season, piling pressure on head coach Sean Dyche, who took over from Ange Postecoglou in October 2025 with the task of steering the club clear of danger.
The current struggle stands in sharp contrast to last season’s impressive run, when Forest finished seventh. Aina played a key role in that campaign, contributing two goals and an assist across 35 appearances.
The 29-year-old joined the club from Torino in 2023 and remains a long-term part of Forest’s plans, having extended his contract last year to keep him at the City Ground until the summer of 2028. For now, though, his sights are firmly set on helping Forest secure their Premier League status before anything else.
