Jota returned to action for Celtic on Friday. He played 45 minutes in a closed-doors bounce game against Falkirk at Lennoxtown, and came through unscathed. The Daily Record reports that this Jota return marks another big step in his comeback, after 524 days on the sidelines.
Jota suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in April 2025. It cost him the whole of last season. He returned to training in August and has built his fitness steadily since then. Friday’s outing was his latest marker on the road back to Martin O’Neill’s first team.
Primary Source Attribution & Official Details
The update comes from the Daily Record report, which says Jota came through the closed-doors friendly without any reaction. That detail was relayed by the Scottish Sun. He’s a £9million signing for Celtic, aged 27, and hasn’t featured for the club since picking up that ACL injury in April 2025.
That spell out of the team now stands at 524 days. It covers the whole of last season. Daily Record says Jota returned to training in August. He has spent the weeks since building up his fitness, and Friday’s 45 minutes at Lennoxtown is the clearest sign yet of his progress.
Squad Impact & Tactical Context
Celtic fielded a side built around fringe players and youth prospects for the Falkirk match. They still won 2-0. Lucas Clearie scored both goals, continuing a fine run of form that has brought him 15 goals in 13 Lowland League appearances this season. His contribution underlines the strength Celtic have below the first-team squad, even in a game set up mainly around Jota’s comeback.
Jota remains a long way from first-team action. Friday’s game was about managing his recovery, not pushing for a starting role. Supporters have followed his progress closely this year, given what the winger offers going forward once fit, as we noted in our trio update on Celtic’s returning injury cases.
What Happens Next / Upcoming Timeline
Martin O’Neill had previously said he expected Jota back in the first-team fold around Halloween. Celtic haven’t set out a firm date for his return to matchday squads though. Friday’s bounce game fits that general timeline, but it doesn’t confirm exactly when he’ll be involved again.
The Jota return will likely continue in low-key fashion. Expect more closed-doors games and training work before any first-team involvement. Celtic’s next assignment, detailed in the Hearts preview, gives supporters a sense of the fixtures Jota could eventually be built towards. He isn’t yet part of those plans.
