Nigeria internationals Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi have resumed training with Nottingham Forest as the Premier League club officially kicked off preparations for the 2026/27 season under new head coach Oliver Glasner.
The Super Eagles duo reported to the Nigel Doughty Academy on Monday alongside their teammates, marking the start of Forest’s pre-season ahead of what will be the club’s fifth successive campaign in the English top flight.
Unlike some international players who were afforded an extended summer break, Aina and Awoniyi returned with the first group after missing Nigeria’s fixtures at the 2026 Unity Cup and the subsequent international friendlies against Poland and Portugal.
The opening session also ushered in a fresh chapter for Forest, with Glasner overseeing training for the first time since taking charge earlier this summer.
The Austrian manager will use pre-season to evaluate his squad as he begins implementing his ideas ahead of the new campaign.
For Aina and Awoniyi, the coming weeks present an important opportunity to stake their claim under the club’s new leadership after enduring contrasting fortunes last season.
Aina’s campaign was disrupted by injuries that limited his consistency, while Awoniyi struggled for regular minutes, making only four starts across all competitions.
Despite his reduced role, the Nigerian striker still delivered a memorable moment, producing three goal involvements in Nottingham Forest’s impressive 3-1 victory over Chelsea in May.
With a new manager at the helm and competition for places expected to intensify, both players will be eager to make a strong impression during pre-season and secure key roles in Glasner’s plans.
Nottingham Forest’s preparations will include a demanding schedule of friendly matches against Notts County, Blackburn Rovers, Vitória SC, Sporting CP, Bayer Leverkusen, and Stade Brestois, providing valuable opportunities for the squad to build fitness and momentum before the Premier League season gets underway.
For Aina and Awoniyi, the road back begins now, with pre-season offering the perfect platform to turn the page on last season and establish themselves as key figures in Nottingham Forest’s new era under Glasner.
