Martin O'Neill has provided an update on Jota's ACL injury, reassuring Celtic supporters that it is not career-ending.
The winger has not played a single minute of football this season, and sadly, he has had multiple setbacks on his road to recovery. Since picking up his injury at Tannadice last season, he would have been hoping that he would have been able to get on the pitch this campaign, but sadly, it seems as though that will need to wait.
We don't want to rush him back, and O'Neill has assured fans that Jota will do everything in his power to get back to his best.
Speaking to The Scottish Sun, he said: "He’s been out for a long time. In his rehab, he’s had a couple of setbacks. I had a conversation with him about where he is with all of this. He had a consultation with a surgeon down in London a few days ago. He’s come back.
"Just when he thinks he’s going great, he gets a bit of a setback; it’s just the length of time that you’re out. These types of injuries, you think it’s straightforward, sometimes they’re not, and you’re stopped in your tracks when you think you’re going well.
"I would be hoping that whoever is going to be in charge of the football club, that Jota would be ready for pre-season. That’s what I would be hoping for.
"It has been a fairly lengthy time he’s been out, but I have no concerns in a career-threatening way. These sorts of injuries, in my day, were career-threatening because they were unusual in the sense that not many surgeons in Britain were doing them.
"Now, there are lots of phenomenal surgeons all over, not just in Britain, in Ireland and in Europe now. So I don’t see this as being a career-threatening injury.
"If Celtic fans are worried because of the length of time he’s taken, I’d try and assure them that he will recover from this."
Jota can still get back to his best
Jota can still get back to his best, or at least, that's what all supporters will be hoping. Some people are already doubting him on social media, saying that he will never be the same player, and although that may be true in a sense, there is no reason why he can't come back and perform well for the club.
He has always been great for Celtic, and his return goal at Fir Park is a legendary moment. Hopefully, when he's finally back, he can find his form and start bagging in goals again. With wingers at the club struggling and lots of players likely to leave in the summer, we certainly need him back sooner rather than later.