The challenge of taking over a new club is always filled with anticipation, but for Ange Postecoglou, his first week as Nottingham Forest manager has been immediately complicated by a significant setback.
The Australian coach, who was appointed just days ago, has been dealt a harsh blow with the news that key defender Ola Aina is expected to be sidelined for at least three months after suffering a hamstring tear while on international duty with Nigeria.
The injury occurred during the early stages of Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa on Tuesday. Aina was forced to leave the pitch after just ten minutes, and while he was able to walk off, the discomfort was evident.
Subsequent scans have confirmed the worst, revealing a significant tear that will require an extended period of recovery.
This is a major frustration for Postecoglou, who identified the 28-year-old as his only injury concern during his first press conference, just before the scan results confirmed the severity of the situation.
Aina’s absence leaves a substantial void in the Forest lineup. He was an ever-present figure last season, featuring in 35 of the club’s 38 league games and playing a pivotal role in their successful push for European qualification.
His experience and reliability at left-back provided a solid foundation for the team, and he had started all three of Forest’s matches this season prior to the international break.
Due to Premier League squad registration rules, he will now have to be officially removed from the squad, a procedural move that underscores the long-term nature of his injury.
This development could not have come at a more difficult time for the new manager. Postecoglou’s first match in charge is a daunting trip to the Emirates Stadium to face an Arsenal side that has begun the season in strong form.
The injury crisis at left-back is compounded by the fact that deadline day loan signing Oleksandr Zinchenko is ineligible to face his parent club, Arsenal.
This leaves summer signing Nicolo Savona, a relatively untested arrival from Juventus, as the most likely candidate to be thrust into the starting role against one of the league’s most potent attacks.
For Postecoglou, it is a brutal introduction to the realities of management at his new club. After a short break from the game following his departure from Tottenham, he finds himself stepping straight into one of the most challenging fixtures in the Premier League calendar without one of his most important defenders
He acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead, noting that Mikel Arteta’s side has strengthened over the summer and will be a formidable opponent.
While he remained pragmatic, stating “it is what it is,” the loss of a player of Aina’s caliber is far from an ideal start to his tenure. The coming months will test the squad’s depth and Postecoglou’s tactical flexibility earlier than anyone at the City Ground would have hoped.
