Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has been ruled out for three months with a hamstring injury sustained on international duty.
The right-back limped off in Nigeria’s 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with South Africa on Tuesday and scans have confirmed the severity of the injury.
Aina will now be removed from Forest’s Premier League squad, although can be re-registered after the winter transfer window.
New boss Ange Postecoglou had confirmed on Thursday the 28-year-old was being assessed, and will now be without him until the new year.
Striker Taiwo Awoniyi is now expected to be included in Forest’s Premier League squad.
They go to Arsenal on Saturday for Postecoglou’s first game following Nuno Espirito Santo’s sacking earlier this week.
“It’s a great game – Mikel [Arteta] has got them off to a good start,” said the Australian.
“I think they’ve strengthened over the summer for sure. They’re a stronger team than they were last year so they’ll be a great challenge for us.”
Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham at the end of last season, just 16 days after winning the Europa League.
[BBC]