Ola Aina has returned to light training with Nottingham Forest, manager Vítor Pereira has confirmed, just a day after the defender was left out of Nigeria’s squad for the Unity Cup and upcoming international friendlies against Poland and Portugal.

Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle excluded the versatile fullback from his latest squad following concerns over the player’s fitness after a recent injury layoff.

Aina has been sidelined for the last three weeks after suffering an injury during Nottingham Forest’s Europa League semi-final first-leg clash against Aston Villa at the City Ground.

The setback forced the former Chelsea academy product to miss Forest’s last four matches in all competitions, including Premier League fixtures against Chelsea, Newcastle United and Manchester United, as well as the Europa League return leg at Villa Park.

Providing an update during Thursday’s press conference, Pereira revealed that the Nigerian defender had resumed on-pitch work but stressed that the club would not rush players back before they are fully fit.

“Murillo stays without training with the team. Ola (Aina) started today on the pitch,” Pereira said.

“I think Dan (Ndoye) has worked two times with the team, but we will see. I think that is all.

“We are in a moment of the season where we can’t take risks because this is a game we want to win. It’s not a final or a game to decide big things.”

Aina has not featured for the Super Eagles since sustaining a hamstring injury during Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa last September.

In total, the defender has now missed the last 14 matches played by the three-time African champions.