Returning Celtic hero Jota has been tipped to lift the Parkhead gloom after taking a huge step towards ending his injury hell. The Celts wide man came through 45 minutes of a closed doors bounce game win against Falkirk on Friday in his first taste of action in 18 months.
Mulgrew's inside track on Jota's comeback
Ex-Hoops star Charlie Mulgrew revealed he has been given the inside track on the Portuguese ace's comeback bid – and he's convinced Jota can raise the mood in Glasgow's East End following their nightmare week before the international break.
Mulgrew – who was starring for Celts at the Tennents Sixes – said: "Jota is such a top player – it will be huge to see him back. It's the old line about it being like having a new signing. I know that's a cliche but it's true with Jota because he has been out for so long."
"Martin O'Neill never managed to see him at all last season, so he'll be delighted. I'd imagine a player of his quality will be desperate to get back playing again as well."
Mulgrew added: "Obviously with a lot of players away during the international break, my son (Joshua) plays for the under 18s and managed to go in and train with some of the first team boys. Jota was alongside them on a few of the days and he spoke really highly of him. He was looking well. It's really good to see him back. It's been a tough time for Celtic fans in the last few weeks but the sight of him back on the pitch will get them smiling."
Jota's road to recovery and potential impact
Mulgrew is thrilled to see Jota finally turning the corner on the road to recovery following his horror ACL injury suffered at Tannadice in April 2025. And the wide man could play a massive part in getting Celtic's season back on track.
Mulgrew said: "He could be an important player for Celtic. It's something they probably need in the forward area. Listen, there are issues all over the pitch for Martin right now, but the wide area is definitely an area that could do with some help."
"If Jota can get up to a level of fitness it would be massive. I think people are going to have to be patient with him though. You don't just breeze back in after 18 months out. He'll need to take his time to build up but even if he gets 10 minutes here and 15 minutes there for a few weeks, it will give everyone at the club a huge lift, whether it's the players or the supporters."
O'Neill backed to turn things around
Celtic boss O'Neill has spent the international break soul searching after two defeats to Rangers and a Europa battering by Ferencvaros. But Mulgrew is convinced the veteran campaign can come back with a bang.
He said: "The last three games have been poor but now it's about getting the head down and getting back to it. If there's any manager who can turn it around it's Martin. I know there was talk about him walking away but I couldn't see it."
"He'll be desperate to get back to winning ways as soon as possible. There's no reason why he can't go and win the next five or 10 games. He's done it before. The last three and the European game against LASK have been really disappointing, there's no getting away from it."
"There's big questions about the squad but they have shown it in the past this season already. There was a ruthlessness at the top end of the pitch in the first few games of the season. We saw it in that first leg against LASK as well. They've maybe lost a bit of confidence over that final week but that can come back with the performances. It's a big job but Martin can do it."
