Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has delivered new updates on Nigeria internationals Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash against Tolu Arokodare’s Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
Aina remains sidelined with the hamstring injury he picked up during Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa in September. The defender has missed.
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Forest’s last sixteen games and is not expected back until January. Compounding his absence, Aina is ineligible to feature until the winter transfer window reopens, having been omitted from both Forest’s Premier League and Europa League squads due to injury.
Awoniyi will also sit out a third consecutive league fixture as he continues to recover from a muscular issue.
Providing the latest squad news, Dyche said:
“It’s better news. Not everyone’s quite fit yet, but a few are back on the grass training which is a good start. The ones not with us yet are Taiwo, Wood and Douglas, although getting closer.”
He further confirmed that Aina will not return before the new year:
“Ola Aina is getting close to fitness but obviously can’t be with us until January.”
Aina’s extended layoff also leaves Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle with a key decision to make regarding the defender’s availability for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Meanwhile, Wolves continue their search for a first Premier League victory of the 2025–26 campaign.
Rob Edwards’ men sit bottom of the table with two points from seven games and are yet to score under the new manager, despite encouraging signs such as Jorgen Strand Larsen’s ruled-out effort against Aston Villa.
Forest, by contrast, have stabilised under Dyche, losing just two of eight matches since his appointment.
Their resurgence included a three-game winning streak in November, highlighted by a memorable win at Anfield.
Though they fell 2-0 to Brighton last weekend, Forest have climbed to 16th and remain strong on the road.
Both teams head into Wednesday’s clash with significant injury concerns. Wolves remain without Daniel Bentley, Matt Doherty and Rodrigo Gomes, while Forest are missing Chris Wood, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Awoniyi.
