Celtic winger Jota is set to return to action in a closed-door bounce game against Falkirk on Friday, according to The Herald.
The Portuguese star has not played since suffering an ACL injury at Tannadice in April last year, which ruled him out for the whole of last season. The 27-year-old spent the past year rehabbing in Lisbon before reporting back to Lennoxtown in July, where he has been edging closer to a return after 18 months on the sidelines.
Fitness race and timeline
Boss Martin O'Neill had previously warned fans not to expect the 27-year-old back until around Halloween, but assistant Shaun Maloney was hopeful Jota can beat that timeline. The wide man is now set to win the fitness race in a specially arranged bounce game at Lennoxtown against Falkirk on Friday.
Former Parkhead striker Cillian Sheridan has warned Jota he could be in for a "frustrating" return to the pitch. Sheridan told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard: "I just think patience is needed when he is coming back. There is so many different elements of why - he has the time before when he came back to Celtic, where he was kind of bedding himself in and getting back to that 100 per cent version of Jota."
Return to rhythm
Sheridan added: "Then the time and the set-backs, there is so many factors. When you are out of football for more than four to six months where it takes you a while to get back up to speed. I have had it with injuries and the first time I have did it I have thought 'what is the difference, I have done all my training work, I should be fine'; and you find yourself frustrated that you can't get into the rhythm of games and the feeling of it."
Jota has yet to play under O'Neill, having last featured for Brendan Rodgers in the 5-0 win against Dundee United. Since then, Rodgers has left the club, with the Parkhead icon enjoying two interim spells either side of Wilfried Nancy's tenure. The 74-year-old O'Neill was then appointed permanently in the summer ahead of Robbie Keane.
Career at Celtic
Jota left the Portuguese giants for Celtic Park in 2021. The attacker returned to Celtic after spells at Al-Ittihad and Stade Rennes for £8.4m in January 2025, netting five goals for the club before his injury.
