Ola Aina made his first appearance for Nottingham Forest in the UEFA Europa League starting in the club’s narrow 1-0 defeat away to FC Braga on Thursday night.
Aina who returned this January from a hamstring injury he suffered last September got his first taste of European football with the Reds at the Estádio Municipal de Braga.
Sean Dyche named the Nigerian right-back as a starter with the club pushing to consolidate their chances of reaching the round of 16.
However, Dyche’s men fell by the odd goal after Ryan Yates turned the ball into his own net in the 54th minute.
Moments earlier, Morgan Gibbs-White missed a glorious chance to fire the visitors ahead from the penalty spot, but his kick was saved.
Trailing and with time running out, the Reds coach made a triple change, subbing off Aina, James McAtee and Douglas Luiz in the 69th minute.
Despite the changes Forest could not salvage a point and suffered their second defeat of the campaign.
In other games, Zaidu Sanusi was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw against Viktoria Plzen, while Kelechi Iheanacho and Terem Moffi did not make the matchday squads for their respective teams.
Both forwards were ruled out with injuries; Iheanacho with a hamstring and Moffi with an unspecified concern.
