'Baffled me a little bit' - Ex-Man Utd striker doesn't understand why Aina keeps getting substituted 

Former Manchester United forward Garry Birtles has questioned Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito's habit of substituting Super Eagles right-back Ola Aina.

The 27-year-old is one of the first names on the Portuguese tactician starting lineup, either being deployed as a right-back or a left-back, though he is yet to register a goal contribution under him.

Since taking charge at the City Ground, the former Tottenham boss has consistently included the Cobham product in the starting lineup for every match where he's been available for selection.

However, Aina has only completed a game twice in the seven appearances he has made under Espírito and that hasn't gone down well with Birtles.

Speaking on the Forest Focus podcast via Nottingham Forest News, Birtles has questioned the reason behind the frequent substitution of the Nigeria international by Espírito.

"The substitutions baffled me a little bit. Do you know, he keeps taking (Ola) Aina off and I think he's doing alright. I don't always get it."

The 50-year-old will need Aina fully fit and firing on all cylinders in the coming weeks as he seeks to protect the Premier League status of Forest.

The two-time European champions sit one point just adrift of a place in the relegation zone with five games left to be played by them.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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