Ola Aina reassured fans after revealing successful hamstring surgery expected to keep him sidelined.
The Nottingham Forest defender thanked supporters and promised a determined recovery to return stronger soon.
Nigeria international Ola Aina has confirmed that he has undergone a successful surgery on his hamstring injury, which is expected to sideline him for up to three months.
The Nottingham Forest defender shared the news on Instagram on Tuesday, posting a video from his hospital bed. The clip showed his right leg strapped post-operation, before later moving around with the help of crutches.
Aina revealed the procedure took place on September 13 and expressed gratitude to fans for their outpouring of support.
“I just finished having my first surgery, and I want to say thank you for all the support and the messages. It is all in God’s timing, this is God’s plan,” the 28-year-old said.
In a caption, he described the operation as the beginning of his recovery journey:
“The journey begins. Surgery went really well, and recovery is going smoothly. I am looking forward to getting stronger. A massive thank you to the club, my teammates and all the fans for the incredible support. I will be working hard every day to get back out there as soon as possible and can’t wait to be back on the pitch at the City Ground.”
Aina sustained the hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria, limping off just 10 minutes into the Super Eagles’ 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with South Africa.
Subsequent scans confirmed the severity of the problem, with Nottingham Forest’s medical team projecting his earliest return in December.
The setback has forced Forest to remove him from their Premier League squad list for the first half of the season, though he could be re-registered in January. His absence has created space for striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who is now expected to be included.
For Nigeria, the timing is equally challenging. Head coach Eric Chelle is already juggling multiple injury concerns, and Aina has been a key player thanks to his versatility on both flanks and his attacking contributions.
With crucial qualifiers against Lesotho and the Benin Republic scheduled for October, alternatives like Bright Osayi-Samuel and Zaidu Sanusi are expected to step up.
Despite the setback, Aina’s positive message has reassured fans of both Forest and Nigeria.
“It is going to be all right,” he said, pledging to return more assertive and more determined.
His recovery will be closely monitored as both club and country prepare for a decisive few months on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
