Ola Aina Ruled Out of Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United Premier League Clash With Recurring Injury

Nottingham Forest will head into their Premier League meeting with Manchester United without first-choice right-back Ola Aina, after manager Vitor Pereira confirmed the Super Eagles defender remains sidelined with a recurring injury.

Aina was forced off in the 75th minute of Forest’s Europa League semi-final first leg against Aston Villa two weeks ago and has not featured since. The upcoming fixture against Manchester United will represent his fourth consecutive absence across all competitions.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Pereira provided a direct squad update: “Murillo is out, Aina is out.” The Portuguese coach indicated that while several players are making progress in their recovery, he has no intention of rushing Aina back before he is fully fit. “They are all improving but I think it’s not the time to take risks. We’ll see, it’s with the medical department now,” Pereira added.

The 27-year-old’s absence represents a notable defensive blow for Forest, who nonetheless have cause for optimism after securing Premier League survival for another season following a recent draw with Newcastle United. Alongside Aina, centre-back Murillo is also unavailable, leaving Pereira with limited options at the back.

This latest setback is part of a campaign heavily disrupted by fitness issues for the Chelsea academy graduate. Earlier in the season, Aina sustained a significant hamstring injury while representing Nigeria in a 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa — a problem that kept him out for the majority of the first half of the domestic season. Despite that lengthy spell on the sidelines, he returned to string together fifteen consecutive Premier League appearances before being sidelined once more.

For Manchester United, Aina’s absence removes one of Forest’s more reliable defensive options ahead of a fixture that carries importance for both clubs. United will look to exploit any vulnerabilities in the Tricky Trees’ backline at the City Ground this weekend.

With the domestic season approaching its conclusion, attention for Aina and his camp will now turn to the summer, with a full recovery the priority before preparations begin for the 2026-27 campaign. The Nigeria international will also be hoping to return to fitness in time to remain in contention for Super Eagles duty, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America on the horizon.

Nottingham Forest’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa and their remaining Premier League fixtures will test the depth of Pereira’s squad, particularly in defensive areas, as the club navigates a congested end to the season.