Major Celtic injury update on Jota emerges as behind closed doors comeback game mission emerges
It’d be a big boost for Celtic to get the Parkhead favourite back.
An injury update on when Jota could make his comeback for Celtic has emerged.
Th Portuguese winger went down away to Dundee United in April 2025 as Premiership title joy under Brendan Rodgers was clouded by his long-term knee injury. It was originally thought he’d miss around nine months but Jota has now missed 17 months and didn’t kick a ball in anger last term.
Manager Martin O’Neill is in need of a boost after three consectuive defeats to Rangers and Ferencvaros heading into the international break and he may get one with Jota closing in on a return to play. A behind closed doors match is being sought to give the winger a behind closed doors comeback opportunity before any further assessments can take place on when competitive battling can begin again. Celtic are back in action on October 10 against Motherwell and Jota’s initial timetable for this season marked Halloween as his possible injury return weekend.
What is the latest with Jota returning from injury at Celtic?
Reporting from the Scottish Sun states: “Jota is in line for a return to action for Celtic in a bounce game during the international break. The Portuguese winger has been sidelined since April last year after suffering an ACL rupture.
“SunSport understands Jota has continued to make encouraging progress in training and small-sided games. Now boss Martin O’Neill, who is still considering his future after three straight defeats, hopes to arrange a closed-doors friendly match for the fan favourite.
“That would put him on course for a possible first-team return by the end of next month. Jota has spent a large part of his rehab back home in Lisbon. The 27-year-old — sold by the Hoops to Al-Ittihad in 2023 for £25million but re-signed last year for £8.4m — returned to Lennoxtown in July. He has been a huge loss for Celts but is now close to a return.”
What have Celtic said about Jota returning from injury?
O’Neill said in early September of the winger returning to the Celtic fold: “Jota might be ready more quickly than I thought. He’s coming along very well.
“It’s been a long time, but he’s been doing really well in small-sided matches he’s been involved in. Jota’s not been stretched too much yet but that will come for him over this month.”
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