Ola Aina returns to Nottingham Forest’s Europa League squad, Oleksandr Zinchenko drops out

Nottingham Forest have restored Ola Aina to their Europa League squad, in place of Oleksandr Zinchenko — who has been omitted.

Aina had been named in the initial squad in the summer, until he suffered a serious hamstring injury during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against South Africa in September.

With the full-back facing months on the sidelines the on-loan Arsenal player — who had initially been left out of the European squad, along with record signing Omari Hutchinson — was given the Nigerian international’s place in the group.

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Now Aina has recovered from his injury, starting the recent games at Aston Villa and West Ham United in the Premier League, Forest are permitted to restore him to their Europa League squad, in place of the man who replaced him.

Zinchenko has found minutes limited for Nottingham Forest (James Holyoak/MB Media/Getty Images)

No further changes will be allowed until the end of the league phase of the competition, with Forest set to play in Braga next Thursday, before a final home game against Ferencvaros on January 29.

Forest currently sit in 11th place in the 36-team table, two points outside of the top eight — which will automatically qualify for the next round, without the need of a play-off game. Braga are currently seventh while Hungarian side Ferencvaros sit in sixth.

While Aina was a key figure in last season’s seventh-place finish under Nuno Espirito Santo, the decision is also a reflection of the disappointing impact Zinchenko has made at the City Ground.

The versatile midfielder, who has frequently played at left-back, has started only four Premier League games and was one of three players who were withdrawn at half-time in Friday’s FA Cup elimination at Wrexham.