Celtic's coach was pleased with Jota's return to the turf after 533 days of injury, and considers it a reinforcement for the rest of the season.
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11/10/2026
by
Lusa
O celtic coach was very pleased today with Jota’s return to the lawns, after a long 533-day stop due to injury, and pointed out the Portuguese footballer as a ‘reinforcement’ for the rest of the season.
“He’s back. It's almost like having a new player. And as the weeks, the days and the months go on, it gets more and more physical. I hope he stays free of serious injuries from now on and then we will have a real player”, said Martin O’Neill.
The 74-year-old coach spoke at a press conference after the victory of the Celtic of Motherwell (2–0), for the Scottish League, in a match in which the 27-year-old advanced was launched at 74 minutes.
Jota, a player from Benfica who is living a second passage through the Glasgow emblem, was a year and a half away from the lawns due to a rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the right knee, suffered in April 2025.
Celtic faces Benfica, on Thursday, at 8:00 p.m., in duel of the second day of the League Europa league phase, at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon.