Nottingham Forest legend Garry Birtles has raised concerns about Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo's frequent substitution of Super Eagles wideman Ola Aina.
At 27, Aina is a key player for the Portuguese manager because of his versatility; he is capable of playing as both a right-back and a left-back.
Despite being consistently included in the starting lineup by Santo since his arrival at the City Ground, Aina has only managed to complete a full game twice out of seven appearances, a fact that Birtles finds unsettling.
Birtles spent two separate spells with Forest. His first spell was between 1976 to 1980, during which he scored 32 goals in 87 appearances. His second spell was between 1982 to 1986, where he scored 38 goals in 125 games.
Birtles is primarily recognised for his tenure at Nottingham Forest, notably winning the European Cup Finals in both 1979 and 1980.
He also earned three caps for the England national team. Additionally, the 67-year-old played for Manchester United between 1980 to 1982.
Birtles questions Nuno Espírito Santo's substitution strategy at Nottingham Forest
Sharing his thoughts on Forest Focus Podcast, Birtles said, “The substitutions baffled me a little bit. Do you know, he keeps taking Aina off and I think he’s doing alright. I don’t always get it.”
Aina signed a one-year contract with Nottingham Forest on July 22, 2023, after being released by Torino where he spent five seasons. His debut for the club came on August 12 in a 2–1 defeat against Arsenal in the Premier League.
On November 5, the Super Eagles player scored his first goal for Forest in a 2–0 victory over Aston Villa. To date, he has participated in 18 matches across all competitions, scoring one goal whilst providing one assist.
As his contract nears expiration in July, it remains unclear whether the former Chelsea player's time with Forest will continue beyond this season.
Forest's survival hopes hang in the balance as Aina emerges as key player
Nottingham Forest currently sit in 17th place on the league table with 26 points after 33 games played. They are only one point ahead of Luton Town, who are positioned just below them and are currently in the relegation zone.
As the season approaches its final stretch, with just five games remaining, the Reds face a crucial challenge to avoid relegation and preserve their Premier League status.
Ola Aina emerges as a key player whom Forest can rely on to help achieve this objective. However, the extent of their success will hinge on how effectively Santo harnesses Aina's potential.
