PAULO BERNARDO insists Celtic fans have yet to see the best of his Portuguese pal Filipe Jota.
The flamboyant winger returned to Parkhead in January in an £8.5million switch from Rennes around the time Kyogo Furuhashi made the reverse trip.
Jota had an 18-month interlude in Saudi Arabia and France before making his much-welcomed and heralded comeback to the champions.
The cavalier raider netted in the 3-1 win over Motherwell on his second debut for the Hoops and took his goal return to four when he snapped up the second goal in the 3-0 success over Hearts at the weekend.
JOY BHOYS…Paulo Bernardo congratulates Filipe Jota on his comeback goal in the 3-1 win over Motherwell at Fir Park on February 2 – just a few days after his return.
Bernardo made a return to action after being out for eight matches when he replaced skipper Callum McGregor in the 64th minute against the Edinburgh club.
The former Benfica duo will be in Brendan Rodgers’ plans for Sunday’s midday clash with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park as the Hoops count down the fixtures before their inevitable fourth successive championship.
The one-time prospects at the Lisbon giants are prepared to play their parts and Bernardo said: “Jota has already shown a lot of quality during these [comeback]games.
“I spoke to him and he feels much better now than he was when he arrived.
“I think he’s really important to the squad. At his age, 26, I think there is more to come from him and he came here to show that, too.
THE SECOND DEBUT…Brendan Rodgers prepares to send on Filipe Jota against Motherwell.
”He wants to show his quality and he is doing really well. He’s working hard at Lennoxtown every day. I think the best will come from him.”
Bernardo admitted there are many reasons he is delighted to have his compatriot beside him in Glasgow and said: “It means I can speak Portuguese here, and not just with my girlfriend!
“It’s been nice to have him back.
“He’s a fantastic footballer and I think he improves the levels in our squad and our strength in many ways. It’s really nice to have him here.”
Asked if Jota gives Celtic an x-factor, Bernardo, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Yes, that’s true. He goes one-on-one with defenders.
“For them, it’s hard to know when he goes or when he stays with the ball. Jota likes the pressure and he likes to take risks, to go at defenders and to see where he can go.
JOTA’S BACK…Celtic’s mesmerising winger makes his return at Fir Park in February.
“He has a strong mentality, too, because it’s not easy to come back to a place that he was so good at. You risk it to come back and to see if he can do better.
“He shows a strong mentality to come back and to see what he can do.”
Bernardo also had a word of praise for Callum McGregor as he added: “He is a great leader. He’s the perfect captain for every team.
“When Callum has to say something, he says it. When he wants to show something, he shows how to do it on the pitch.
“He doesn’t need to scream at people. We know the message he wants to pass on. It’s nice to have him on the team and to learn with him.”
