After a 10,781-day hiatus since their UEFA Cup quarter-final against Bayern Munich in 1996, Nottingham Forest are set to re-enter European competition tonight, according to Soccernet.ng.
Under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, the Reds aim to secure another Europa League title as they begin their campaign with an away fixture against Real Betis in Spain.
Unfortunately, Nottingham Forest will be without their Super Eagles defender Ola Aina, who sustained a hamstring injury during Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa earlier this month. Following surgery, Aina is expected to be sidelined until at least December.
Although initially named in Forest’s UEFA Europa League squad, Aina was removed to make way for new signing Oleksandr Zinchenko, a move enabled by UEFA’s recently introduced regulation.
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UEFA’s New Rule Benefits Nottingham Forest
The UEFA Executive Committee has recently revised squad registration rules across all European club tournaments, including the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
This update permits clubs to temporarily substitute an outfield player who suffers a long-term injury or illness expected to last a minimum of 60 days.
If the injured player recovers before the 60-day threshold, they become ineligible to participate in the competition for that season.
Given Aina’s anticipated return in December and the African Cup of Nations scheduled for the same period, his comeback to European football is projected for 2026.
UEFA explained the rationale behind this amendment: “The change aims to prevent unfair reductions in squad sizes and to protect players from excessive physical demands.”
Clubs must submit valid medical documentation to UEFA to confirm the legitimacy of the injury, ensuring the substitution is not a tactical maneuver. UEFA retains the authority to investigate any such cases.
With Aina sidelined and Zinchenko stepping in, Postecoglou expressed satisfaction with his revamped squad.
“Signing Zinchenko is a fantastic boost for us. Losing Ola was a significant setback, and without the ability to bring Oleksandr in, we would have been dangerously short on full-backs,” the 2025 UEFA Europa League champion told BBC Sports UK.
“I’m thrilled that this rule change has been implemented. Oleksandr will be a tremendous asset.
“He’s clearly a top-tier player with extensive experience in European competitions, so integrating him into our squad is excellent news.
“I have great respect for continental and international football. Although the packed schedule can be challenging, the exposure players gain from competing in diverse environments against varied opponents is invaluable for their development, far beyond what domestic leagues alone can offer,” Postecoglou concluded.
Nottingham Forest must accelerate their performance across all competitions this season, especially after their recent elimination from the EFL Cup by Championship side Swansea City.
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