Last January, Celtic's most high-profile move was bringing back Jota from Rennes. The Portuguese winger had struggled badly since leaving the club, firstly at Al-Ittihad and then in France. And it had clearly had an effect on him, as he was visibly emotional after scoring for the Hoops on his return to Scottish football.
Jota was nowhere near his best, which was understandable, considering how little football he had played in the previous 18 months. But he was still effective, scoring five times in 16 apperances, and had even started to establish himself as a starter again.
Unfortunately, that did not last. He suffered an injury towards the end of last season. It was soon confirmed to be a long-term one and he was eventually ruled out for the entire year.
The expectation was that he would return in early 2026. But now, there is further bad news regarding Jota's status coming out of Celtic.
Celtic confirm bad news about Jota's injury and return
As reported by The Celtic Way, Martin O'Neill told the media today regarding the status of Jota:
"I don't see, for instance, in terms of the long-term injuries, I don't see Jota being back this season."
This is terrible news for Celtic. Jota is an excellent player, and someone who can make his mark in this team, which clearly lacks quality on the wings.
Unfortunately, it is pretty clear that we are not going to see Jota back in action anytime soon. And when someone has picked up an injury of this magnitude, one has to wonder whether he will ever rediscover his best form again.
It might not be the best thought, but it is very possible that we will never see Jota performing at the level he showed during Ange Postecoglou's era at Celtic. That might very well be the unfortunate reality of this situation.
We can only wish the best in his recovery. Let's hope that he is able to make his return to the pitch as soon as possible.