Shaun Maloney has spoken about the plans to re-introduce long term injury victim Jota back into the Celtic side, on that day that the Portuguese winger was pictured back on the training field at Lennoxtown…
Jota of Celtic receives treatment before leaving the field during the Scottish Premiership match between Dundee United FC and Celtic FC at Tannadice on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
It has been a long and difficult 16 months for Jota after he was helped off the pitch at Tannadice and left in crutches as the rest of his teammates celebrated a title win in the City of Discovery.
Shaun Maloney, who is taking media duties in the absence of Martin O’Neill who is recovering at home after surgery, revealed that the plan is to gradually nurse Jota back to full fitness, but didn’t commit to an actual comeback timeframe.
Jota has endured an agonising 16 months, with his ACL injury suffering more than a few setbacks, with some supporters worrying that his career could indeed be over.
Jota of Celtic receives treatment before leaving the field during the Scottish Premiership match between Dundee United FC and Celtic FC at Tannadice on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill had previously indicated a timeline of Halloween for the Portugueses comeback, and Maloney reiterated his mentors sentiment.
The Celtic Assistant Manager said: “Yeah, definitely. It might take a bit of time and hard work. He’s definitely putting in the hours. He looks really strong. He’s got every chance. I think it might take a bit of time.
“Cameron Carter-Vickers had a really bad injury. He was out for eight or nine months, but he had the full pre-season. So, we’ll have to try and do something similar with Jota to give him the best chance. There’s absolutely no doubt that he can do it.”
Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic. Celtic v Dundee, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 3 August 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock
On his return timeline being accelerated, Maloney said: “There is a fair bit to this. It’s one thing coming back to training this week with no contact. Then you have to become free in the next few weeks and build up that tolerance to it. We then have to create friendlies for him too.
“By the time you see him on the pitch for the first team, there will have been a few hurdles to get over. Hallowe’en or November might not be a million miles away. I would hope that it’s earlier for the guy’s sake, but I’m not really sure when it will be.
“Hopefully it will be quicker because he has accelerated in the last few weeks but I’m not really sure.”
Jota of Celtic celebrates scoring the opening goal with team mate Reo Hatate during the Scottish Premiership match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
A fully fit Jota will clearly give Celtic more quality on the left wing, that’s much needed especially after the sale of Daizen Maeda to Ipswich Town. Since leaving Celtic after the 2023 Scottish Cup Final win over Inverness Caley Thistle, Jota’s played very little competitive football with his moves to Saudi Arabia and then France failing to result in regular minutes on the park.
Jota of Celtic celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on February 15, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
That seemed set to change with his homecoming to Paradise but the cruel fate that awaited our Superstar from Portugal that afternoon at Tannadice has given him the most challenging time of his career. Everyone hopes that Jota’s return is successful in terms of his fitness. If it is then we’ll clearly see him finally back doing what he does best, on the park in a Celtic shirt.
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