Jota is set to rejoin Celtic training at Lennoxtown next week as he continues his recovery from the serious knee injury that has kept him out of action for the past 15 months.
Jota of Celtic celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and the Rangers at Celtic Park on September 03, 2022. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The Portuguese winger has been rehabilitating in his homeland following anterior cruciate ligament surgery and is expected to resume work with the club on Monday. However, manager Martin O’Neill insists the 26-year-old remains some distance away from first-team contention.
“He’s back with us on Monday,” O’Neill said via Daily Record.“But being back and being fit are two different things.
“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.”
Away from the injury front, O’Neill confirmed Celtic have put a new contract proposal to striker Kelechi Iheanacho as they look to retain the Nigerian beyond this season.
“There’s an offer there to him at this minute. So we’ll see how that develops,” O’Neill said.
The Celtic boss also played down reports suggesting Nottingham Forest have submitted a bid for midfielder Arne Engels, saying he has received no indication that an offer has arrived.
Meanwhile, recent signing Camilo Duran was absent from training after falling ill. The £5.5 million arrival from Qarabag will be monitored before a decision is made on his involvement in Tuesday night’s pre-season fixture against Sporting CP at the Estadio Algarve.
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