Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has given fans reason to smile after sharing an encouraging update on his recovery from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of action since September.

The Nottingham Forest full-back sustained the injury while representing Nigeria in their 1–1 draw with South Africa during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

On Tuesday, the 29-year-old visited his surgeon for a post-operation check-up and later took to Snapchat to share a brief but uplifting message.

“And it’s clean.” he wrote.

The post confirmed that his recovery is progressing well and that his surgical wounds have healed properly.

Nottingham Forest’s medical team has also maintained that Aina is on schedule and could return to full training by January 2026, provided his rehabilitation continues smoothly.

Before his injury, Aina had featured in three Premier League games early in the season under former manager Ange Postecoglou, who has since been replaced by Sean Dyche. The former Chelsea and Torino man had also impressed under Nuno Espírito Santo last season and will now face competition to reclaim his place in Forest’s new setup.

Aina’s presence has been sorely missed by both club and country. His energy, composure, and attacking support from the right flank had been vital for Forest’s early momentum, while Nigeria will also miss his versatility during the World Cup playoffs and AFCON campaign.

Since making his international debut in 2017, Aina has earned over 48 caps for the Super Eagles and remains one of the team’s most experienced defenders.