FILIPE JOTA is closing in on a long-awaited return to action after his agonising 17-month lay-off.
The maverick winger has not been seen suffering an ACL injury after just 35 minutes of Celtic’s 5-0 title-clinching win over Dundee United at Tannadice on April 26 2025.
However, Jota’s excruciating wait on the sidelines could soon be over after the fans’ favourite his encouraging progress at Lennoxtown, according to a report in the Scottish Sun.
Martin O’Neill hopes to arrange a closed-doors friendly to gauge the progress of the 27-year-old forward and a convincing outing could put the Portuguese ace on the brink of a welcome return sooner than originally anticipated which had been pegged at the end of next month.
DOWN AND OUT…Filipe Jota writhes on the Tannadice pitch on April 26 2025.
The Hoops boss. speaking in a CQN report earlier this month, revealed: “Jota might be ready more quickly than I thought. He’s coming along very well.
“It’s been a long time, but he’s been doing really well in small-sided matches he’s been involved in.
“Jota’s not been stretched too much yet, but that will come for him over this month.”
Jota has spent a large part of his rehab back home in Lisbon and has appeared on the media channel of former club Benfica.
However, there is NO chance of Jota playing against the Portuguese giants in the Europa League on Thursday October 15 in the Stadium of Light – even if he did make remarkable progress.
The flamboyant star, who initially joined the champions on loan from Benfica in August 2021 before making the deal permanent for £6.5million in June the following year, was not considered by O’Neill when he named his 25-man squad for the tournament.
JUST CHAMPION…Filipe Jota thrusts his crutches into the air after Celtic’s 5-0 title-winning victory over Dundee United at Tannadice in April 2025.
Jota, who left Celtic for Saudi side Al-Ittihad in a £25million move in June 2023 and returned in an £8.5million switch in January 2025 after failing to settle at Rennes.
O’Neill will welcome the selection headache when the gifted forward is back to peak fitness. The veteran team chief already has Haissem Hassan, Sebastian Tounekti, Yang Hyun-jun and evergreen James Forrest competing for the two touchline roles.
Striker Camilo Duran has also been occupying the right flank when Kasper Hogh has been leading the line as O’Neill ponders how to utilise the skills of both players in the same line-up.
The Premiership will restart with the champions scheduled to play Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday October 11, just four days before the trip to the Portuguese capital.
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