Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has shared a positive update on Ola Aina’s fitness. The defender is steadily progressing towards his return after several months out.

Aina has been sidelined since September with a hamstring injury. He sustained it while playing for Nigeria. The injury prevented the 29-year-old from joining the Super Eagles’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations plans. It also stalled his club momentum.

He recently featured for Forest’s Under-21 team against Millwall. This was part of a controlled programme. The aim is to regain his match sharpness.

Dyche confirmed Aina is now training more regularly with the first team. However, caution is essential after his long absence.

“Ola is halfway through his fitness progress,” Dyche stated. “He is training more regularly with the team now, which is good. It has been a long-term injury, so we must be careful.”

The ex-Chelsea player could be available for Nottingham Forest early next year. This depends on no further setbacks.

Uche Shines for Crystal Palace

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner praised Christantus Uche. The midfielder delivered a standout performance. He scored a spectacular goal in their 2-2 draw with Finnish club KuPS. This match was part of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

The game took place at Selhurst Park on Thursday night. Uche opened the scoring early, just five minutes in.

The Nigerian international struck powerfully from outside the box. The home crowd erupted in cheers. This goal highlighted his increasing confidence in European competitions.

This was Uche’s second goal in the competition this season. It further showcased his value to Palace during his loan spell.

Glasner commended Uche’s contribution. He also acknowledged a period where his team briefly lost control.

“I was pleased with the performance, especially from the youngsters,” Glasner told reporters. “Uche scored a fantastic goal. We then lost a little structure for ten to fifteen minutes. You get three finishes at the end and score two goals.”

Uche is currently on loan at Palace from Spanish club Getafe.