Celtic have been handed a major injury boost, with Jota set to play in a game for the first time in around 18 months. The winger has been out since April of 2025 due to a ruptured ACL he suffered against Dundee United.
The Bhoys' record signing has been on a long recovery journey, which has extended beyond the usual 12-14-month timeline for ACL ruptures, although players commonly suffer further damage outside of the ACL during ruptures.
Jota returned to training in early September, and he has been working to build his fitness since. Now, in a further boost, Jota is set to take part in match action for the first time on Friday.
According to The Scottish Sun, Jota has been given the green light to compete in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Falkirk at Lennoxtown on Friday. The friendly will include other senior players who have not joined up with their international teams during this window.
Jota will be hoping to come through the test without any setbacks, and that would put him on course to return around the end of this month, which has been the goal.
Even if everything goes well on Friday, Jota will still need to continue building up his fitness slowly before he can manage the intensity of a competitive game. Much will come down to how his body takes the load of his first game action in 18 months.
When he does return, Jota will be a huge boost for the Bhoys, who need more options at the top end of the pitch. The Hoops will be helped by the return of Yang Hyun-jun after the international break, with the South Korean having been at the Asian Games since early September, leaving a significiant gap in the front line.
Between Jota and Yang, Celtic would have two fine options on the left, and it may force Sebastian Tounekti to up his game, with the winger having struggled with production so far this season.
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