Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina will be sidelined for three months with a hamstring injury, Ekwutosblog reports.

Aina sustained the injury on international duty with Nigeria this week.

The 27-year-old was replaced in the 10th minute of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa on Tuesday.

According to the Telegraph, the versatile full-back is not expected to return to action until the end of the year.

Aina’s long-term injury will be a big blow for new Forest manager Ange Postecoglou, who is hoping to make an instant impact at the club.

Forest will be away to Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.

Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, has said only Arsenal can challenge Liverpool in the Premier League title race this season.

The Reds are the only team with a perfect record after three games so far.

Before the current campaign kicked off, Ferdinand said only Liverpool and Manchester City would be in the running to emerge champions.

But he has now replaced City with Arsenal.

Arsenal began the season with wins over Manchester United and Leeds United before losing 1-0 to Liverpool before the international break.

Manchester City have however lost two of their three opening matches.

“I think the only team who will be anywhere near Liverpool this season is Arsenal,” Ferdinand told MailSport.

“They’ve got a great squad, real good depth with who they’ve bought.

“I don’t think we’ll see anyone else. Anyone you think might be a surprise, a Newcastle or a Chelsea, I think European football hinders them a little bit in that respect. Just the demands it puts on the squad.”

Former Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has claimed that Arsenal have the strongest squad in the Premier League.

The Gunners spent over £250m on eight new players this summer, as they seek to finally go one step better and win the title.

Viktor Gyokeres was the headline transfer, as Mikel Arteta finally brought in an out-and-out striker.

Arteta also added Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie.

“The club again, the owners, the hierarchies have gone out again and massively backed Mikel Arteta,” Mikel Obi said on The Obi One Podcast.

“They have the strongest squad in the Premier League them and Liverpool.

“In terms of depth, Arsenal has the strongest, two players in every position.”