Nigerian internationals Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina were among the Nottingham Forest players who reported for duty at the Nigel Doughty Academy on Monday, July 13, kicking off preparations for a fifth consecutive season in the Premier League.
The opening session also marked the start of work for new head coach Oliver Glasner, with the group running through early assessments at the club’s training base. Those available and not connected to the FIFA World Cup formed the core of the first-day return to pre-season.
Awoniyi, who spent much of the previous campaign rebuilding after a serious abdominal injury suffered in May 2025, ended the 2025/26 Premier League season with four goals and one assist from 17 league appearances. Aina, operating as a full-back, featured in 18 league matches and started each of them, though he finished the campaign without a goal or an assist in the league.
Quick facts
- Nottingham Forest began pre-season on Monday, July 13 at the Nigel Doughty Academy.
- Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina were among the players reporting for the first day.
- Oliver Glasner took charge for the initial session, overseeing testing at the club’s training base.
- Players not involved in the FIFA World Cup returned for day one.
- Awoniyi’s 2025/26 Premier League return: four goals and one assist in 17 appearances.
- Aina’s 2025/26 Premier League record: 18 starts, with no goals or assists.
As he resumed training, Awoniyi shared a reflective post on social media, expressing faith, offering gratitude, and describing his outlook as trusting in divine timing.
Forest’s schedule now shifts into the testing and conditioning phase under Glasner, who replaces Vitor Pereira as head coach ahead of the new campaign.
