Jota Return Gives Celtic Fans Something to Smile About. Forward line taking shape.

It’s been a transfer window that has tested the patience of Celtic supporters, but there are finally a few reasons to be optimistic.

Martin O’Neill has confirmed that Jota is back at Lennoxtown and has resumed work on the training pitch. While the Portuguese winger still has a long way to go in his recovery from a serious knee injury, simply seeing him back on the grass is a significant milestone.

Speaking about Jota’s progress, O’Neill said:

“He’s back with us on Monday. I think he is doing a little bit out on the grass. Doing straight-line running for a cruciate is different to doing twists and turns and stuff like this.

“But he’s been out a long time, and I think he feels as if it’s doing fine. Until he’s really nearly fit to play, I’m sorry, you just have to dismiss him in that sense.

“I can’t keep thinking every single day ‘When is he going to be playing?’. I have already dismissed him until Halloween, perhaps.

“But who knows how people come back. I’m sorry, it’s rather cruel but you just have to leave it, he’s not involved. I can’t worry about something that might be three months down the line.”

It’s a measured assessment from the Celtic manager. Nobody wants to see Jota rushed back before he’s ready, and if his rehabilitation continues to progress, Celtic could have one of their biggest attacking weapons available during the second half of the campaign.

There are other encouraging signs too. Camilo Duran has arrived to strengthen the attack, Callum Osmand is another exciting addition, and Kelechi Iheanacho has reportedly been offered a contract to return to Celtic. Should that move materialise, it would provide experience and proven quality to complement the club’s younger forwards.

Add Jota back into that mix later in the year and Celtic’s forward line suddenly begins to look far stronger than it did only a few weeks ago.

Elsewhere, Cameron Carter-Vickers is back playing again after injury, giving Celtic a massive boost at the other end of the pitch. His return brings leadership, composure and defensive stability that the team has missed.

There is still plenty of business to be done before the transfer window closes, and supporters are entitled to expect more from the club’s recruitment. However, amid what has been an underwhelming summer so far, the picture is finally beginning to brighten.

Jota is back in training, Carter-Vickers is back on the pitch, new attacking options are arriving, and another striker could yet be on his way. For the first time in weeks, there are genuine reasons for Celtic supporters to look ahead with a little more optimism.