CELTIC fans’ favourite Filipe Jota could team up with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in the World Cup Finals in Qatar next month and December.
The flamboyant winger has been included in Portugal’s provisional 55-man squad for the winter showpiece. The player pool will be trimmed to 26 in three weeks’ time, according to sports outlet Abola.
Jota’s early-season form has caught the eye of international boss Fernando Santos as the Hoops hero celebrated his £6.5million move from Benfica in the summer with a breathtaking solo goal in the Premiership opener against Aberdeen when he fired in a spectacular long-range effort to add to Stephen Welsh’s opener.
KILLIE CRACKER…Filipe Jota celebrates his stunning striker in Celtic’s 5-0 rout at Rugby Park in August.
PARADISE…Filipe Jota shares a moment with the Celtic fans after his solo goal in the derby last month.
He repeated the feat in the 5-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park and also netted a sensational solo effort in the 4-0 romp in the Glasgow derby.
The 23-year-old attacker, who has collected five goals this term, has missed the last four games – RB Leipzig (0-2), Hibs (6-1), Motherwell (4-0) and Hearts (4-3) – after coming off at half-time in the dramatic stoppage-time victory over St Johnstone in Perth earlier this month.
EURO STAR…Filipe Jota accepts the acclaim of the visiting fans after his strike against RB Leipzig in Germany.
Jota has yet to appear for the full international team, but has figured at youth levels for is country.
He might even get the opportunity to link up with Ronaldo who has also been included in the squad, despite his rollercoaster time at Manchester United.
Jota may not get the final nod for the Middle East extravaganza, but he is moving in the right direction and is it good to note his form at Parkhead has not been overlooked by his international chief.
Portugal are due to play Ghana (Nov 24), Uruguay (Nov 28) and South Korea (Dec 2) in Qatar.
