Celtic have been dealt a major injury setback, with Martin O’Neill confirming that Portuguese winger Jota is unlikely to play again this season.
The 26-year-old has been sidelined since suffering a serious knee injury during Celtic’s clash with Dundee United in April last year. Speaking to the media on Tuesday afternoon, O’Neill delivered a blunt update on the attacker’s recovery timeline.
“Obviously, I’d like to bolster the squad,” O’Neill said.
“I don’t see, for instance, in terms of the long-term injuries, I don’t see Jota being back this season.”
The news comes as a bitter blow for Hoops supporters, with Jota now expected to remain out until the summer. There had been cautious optimism last month that the winger could return by February and play a role during the closing stages of the 2025/26 campaign, but that scenario now appears increasingly unlikely.
While Jota’s outlook is bleak, there was more encouraging news regarding Alistair Johnston. O’Neill suggested the defender could yet make a return before the season concludes.
“I think that Alistair Johnston would probably make a fight back, and he’s hoping to be maybe sometime in March, and that would be great if that’s the case,” O’Neill added.
“But the longer-term injuries, I don’t see it.”
With Jota ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, Celtic’s need to strengthen their attacking options before the transfer window closes has become even more pressing.
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