Shaun Maloney has spoken about the plans to re-introduce long term injury victim Jota back into the Celtic side, on that day that the Portuguese winger was pictured back on the training field at Lennoxtown…
It has been a long and difficult 16 months for Jota after he was helped off the pitch at Tannadice and left in crutches as the rest of his teammates celebrated a title win in the City of Discovery.
Shaun Maloney, who is taking media duties in the absence of Martin O’Neill who is recovering at home after surgery, revealed that the plan is to gradually nurse Jota back to full fitness, but didn’t commit to an actual comeback timeframe.
Jota has endured an agonising 16 months, with his ACL injury suffering more than a few setbacks, with some supporters worrying that his career could indeed be over.
Martin O’Neill had previously indicated a timeline of Halloween for the Portugueses comeback, and Maloney reiterated his mentors sentiment.
The wee man is back training. pic.twitter.com/6BOcX2fpOf
— Timothy Leary (@sharko67) August 7, 2026
The Celtic Assistant Manager said: “Yeah, definitely. It might take a bit of time and hard work. He’s definitely putting in the hours. He looks really strong. He’s got every chance. I think it might take a bit of time.
“Cameron Carter-Vickers had a really bad injury. He was out for eight or nine months, but he had the full pre-season. So, we’ll have to try and do something similar with Jota to give him the best chance. There’s absolutely no doubt that he can do it.”
On his return timeline being accelerated, Maloney said: “There is a fair bit to this. It’s one thing coming back to training this week with no contact. Then you have to become free in the next few weeks and build up that tolerance to it. We then have to create friendlies for him too.
“By the time you see him on the pitch for the first team, there will have been a few hurdles to get over. Hallowe’en or November might not be a million miles away. I would hope that it’s earlier for the guy’s sake, but I’m not really sure when it will be.
“Hopefully it will be quicker because he has accelerated in the last few weeks but I’m not really sure.”
A fully fit Jota will clearly give Celtic more quality on the left wing, that’s much needed especially after the sale of Daizen Maeda to Ipswich Town. Since leaving Celtic after the 2023 Scottish Cup Final win over Inverness Caley Thistle, Jota’s played very little competitive football with his moves to Saudi Arabia and then France failing to result in regular minutes on the park.
That seemed set to change with his homecoming to Paradise but the cruel fate that awaited our Superstar from Portugal that afternoon at Tannadice has given him the most challenging time of his career. Everyone hopes that Jota’s return is successful in terms of his fitness. If it is then we’ll clearly see him finally back doing what he does best, on the park in a Celtic shirt.
💃🕺💚 pic.twitter.com/cl4xQ9oYcD
— 𝙒𝙚𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙃ø𝙜𝙝 (@WeeNippySweety) August 7, 2026
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1 Comment
Even now MoN has numerous decisions to be making before this window actually shuts.
Already expecting a number to changes, from the squad getting named for the CL qualification games. To the one that will be finalised fo a 25man European league phase imo?
That approach doesn’t suit our supporters whatsoever, but would be great to know, as to why, such an approach is in operation?
Has to be far more involved, than just blaming Nicholson imo?
Regardless, a fully fit Jota is still potentially our best option on the left wing, when available quality wise imo?
So should a place still be made available for him, within MoN finalised 25man European squad?
Even on the Halloween timeline, there’s still potentially 4 matches left, hopefully within a CL group phase?
Still think MoN would like 8 attacking options within the finalised 25man European squad, which could be regarded as 9, if you include Hatton as a B listed player?
Yet that would get reduced to 6 for a 20man SPFL match day squad?
So potentially well covered for injuries, creating competition for starting positions, with flexibility and possibly even a rotational options available?
So MoN possibly would rather have the selection problems, moreso than the struggles we had last season, in just filling our attacking options, in match day squads?
Still don’t see a position available for either balikwisha and Kenny, within the plans of MoN for this season imo?
Also, Seb might still have to convince MoN, for a position within his finalised 25man European squad imo?
Such a plan for MoN, may well test his managerial skills in trying to keep players happy? But still believe MoN wants far more committed players, not just in the attacking areas, but throughout the entire squad this season?
Something that wasn’t really in place for himself last season, for huge chunks of it anyway imo?
Getting ourselves back to a more free flowing, goal scoring team, should make this season a far more enjoyable experience, than the one we had to endure last season imo?