Nottingham Forest insider shares what he’s now been ‘told’ about Ola Aina ahead of FA Cup semi-final

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Ola Aina’s fitness is an unwanted headache ahead of the FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester City as the right back fights to be available.

Nuno Espirito Santo will be cursing his luck as fitness issues have begun to plague his Forest squad at the worst possible time, with Ola Aina injured against Manchester United in early April.

Aina was expected to return against Everton, but that deadline came and went with no indication that the Nigerian international is close to returning to the lineup.

However, Aina stated he is feeling better in the build-up to the Man City clash, which has provided a level of hope to Reds fans. Now, though, Forest expert Paul Taylor has shared the latest he has heard on the situation.

Paul Taylor on Ola Aina’s FA Cup semi-final chances

If the task of facing Pep Guardiola’s side wasn’t difficult enough, going into the game without either of your first-choice fullbacks will be the stuff of nightmares for Espirito Santo.

Neco Williams certainly won’t appear at Wembley as he is suspended but Aina still has an opportunity, according to Taylor in a Q&A piece for The Athletic.

Taylor said: “I have been told elsewhere that Aina has a chance of being involved.”

This was somewhat echoed by Espirito Santo in his pre match press conference as, in cryptic fashion, he did not rule out Aina featuring, saying: “There’s still tomorrow [Saturday] to go, let’s see.”

From that response and Taylor’s information, it certainly hints that the 28-year-old will be in the matchday squad but a place in the starting lineup may be a step too far, leading to Taylor assessing Espirito Santo’s alternative options.

Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina alternatives assessed

In recent weeks, it has been Williams switching to the right and then either Alex Moreno or Harry Toffolo starting on the left. One of those two will continue at left-back, but the other may also be forced to play on the right, given the lack of options available in the Forest squad.

Alternatively, Espirito Santo could well change the system entirely, an option that Taylor presented in the Q&A.

He said: “It would not be a massive surprise if Forest perhaps went with a three-man central defence.
You could have Milenkovic, Murillo and Morato as a trio, with Toffolo as a leftwing back and somebody like Dominguez as a right wingback, potentially. That would be one way of solving the problem.”

When Forest beat City in March, it was the familiar four at the back system that bested Guardiola’s men so whilst the three at the back may make logical sense, it would be moving away from a proven formula.