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John Obi Mikel has heaped praise on his former Chelsea teammate, Ola Aina, for the Nigerian defender’s outstanding contributions to Nottingham Forest’s sensational Premier League campaign, Soccernet.football reports.
Nottingham Forest, one of this season’s surprise packages, currently occupies an astonishing second place in the table. They sit two points above fourth-placed Chelsea and ahead of third-placed Arsenal, though the Gunners have a game in hand.
Central to Forest’s resurgence has been the consistent brilliance of Ola Aina.
The Super Eagles defender, who has featured in every league match this season, has earned plaudits for his rock-solid defensive displays and his surprising attacking contributions.
Aina has already matched his career-best tally in the Premier League, scoring twice in just 19 appearances.
Mikel, who shared the dressing room with Aina during their time at Chelsea, spoke glowingly about the 28-year-old’s development.
On The Obi One Podcast, Mikel remarked:
“He has had a good season so far. One thing he has added to his game this season is that he’s defending well. He is putting in a lot of crosses now and, of course, chipping in a couple of goals as well, which is absolutely fantastic to see.
“Listen, we all knew he was a fantastic player at the club. He has gone to Forest and has been playing well since returning to the Premier League from Italy.”
Aina’s performances have not gone unnoticed. The Cobham Academy graduate recently earned a spot in Jamie Carragher’s ‘Team of the Season’ for the first half of the campaign.
Furthermore, he has silenced some of the league’s top wingers, including Liverpool’s Luis Díaz and Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho, enhancing his reputation as one of the most reliable full-backs in the division.
Speculation over Aina’s future has also begun to gather pace. Reports suggest Manchester City are monitoring the Nigerian international, while Nottingham Forest are keen to secure his services for the long term, with talks underway for a contract extension as his current deal expires at the end of the season.
