Aina's surgery on his injured hamstring goes well as he is expected by back by December

SUPER Eagles fullback Ola Aina has successfully undergone surgery on his damaged hamstring injury with his club Nottingham Forest confident that the defender will return to action by December.

Earlier this month, Aina, 28, limped off the pitch in a World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and South Africa early on in the first half. He immediately returned to his club Nottingham Forest, where scans have revealed that he could be out for three months, a big blow for  new head coach Angel Postecoglou who had plans for the defender.

According to Coach Postecoglou, the full-back is set for an extended spell out of action, which he described as a massive blow for him and for me. Aina started all but three of Forest’s Premier League games but he is not going to repeat that this campaign as it is looking like he will be out of action until around Christmas.

Coach Postecoglou told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I was looking forward to working with him. I watched him as an opponent last year and particularly with the way I like my full-backs to play, he was a perfect fit for it.

"I know he was excited by the season ahead, back in European football. Sometimes when these things happen early in the year, I said to him that the best part of the season will be there for him so he can make a massive impact when it is most needed.

"His surgery went really well - that's the first thing ticked. Now he's got to work hard and rehab, which I'm sure he will, and he'll stay close to the group."