Jota Suffers Fresh Setback as Celtic Face Longer Wait for Winger’s Return

Celtic’s hopes of welcoming Jota back early in the new season have suffered another blow after fresh reports revealed the Portuguese winger has endured further complications in his recovery from the ACL injury he sustained against Dundee United in April 2025.

The 27-year-old had initially been targeting a return much earlier in 2026, but his rehabilitation has been hampered by a series of setbacks. The latest update confirms Jota has travelled to Portugal to continue specialist rehabilitation, including blood injection treatment designed to aid the healing process.

Speaking about the winger’s progress, Martin O’Neill admitted he does not expect Jota to be available for the start of the new Premiership campaign. Instead, he suggested Halloween is a more realistic target, while stressing that even that timeline is far from guaranteed.

If that proves to be the case, Jota will have spent around 18 months on the sidelines by the time he returns to competitive football. After such a prolonged absence, Celtic’s medical staff are certain to manage his comeback carefully rather than rushing him back into action.

The update also reinforces the importance of strengthening the squad in the transfer market. While every supporter is desperate to see Jota back in the Hoops, no club can afford to rely on a player returning from such a lengthy injury lay-off. Additional quality in the wide areas remains essential as Celtic prepare for another demanding domestic and European campaign.

For now, the focus must remain on Jota’s long-term recovery. Celtic supporters know the quality he can bring when fully fit, but after so many frustrating setbacks, ensuring he returns at 100 percent is far more important than bringing him back a few weeks early.