THERE was no sign of Filipe Jota as Ange Postecoglou put his non-international players through their paces on the first day of pre-season training.
The Portuguese flyer, who is on the brink of a £6.5million permanent move after last term’s impressive loan from Benfica, was marked absent as some of the squad got rid of the summer rust.
Since the final kick of the ball in the 6-0 win over Motherwell at Parkhead on May 14, Jota has been spotted in Ibiza, New York and Mexico City and his last sighting was at a music festival in Lisbon at the weekend.
ROCKING ALL OVER THE WORLD…Filipe Jota and Sporting Braga’s Andre Horta pictured in a social media post while at the ‘Rock in Rio Lisboa’ concert in the Portuguese capital at the weekend.
Of course, the winger could have been given dispensation from Postecoglou, but the manager will certainly want him on board when they leave a week today for their 10-day training camp in Austria.
One new Bhoy who made his first appearance at the training HQ was Swiss keeper Benji Siegrist who agreed a four-year deal after quitting Dundee United at the end of his contract.
Goalkeeping guru Stevie Woods was busy with Joe Hart, Scott Bain, Ross Doohan, Tobi Oluwayemi and Siegrist all involved in a variety of routines.
IN THE LINE OF FIRE…Benji Siegrist waits his turns as Joe Hart fields a shot while Scott Bain and Ross Doohan look on at Lennoxtown today.
Also making his debut at Lennoxtown was new first-team coach Harry Kewell, the former Australia international, Leeds United and Liverpool star who is now part of the manager’s backroom staff.
Lennoxtown wasn’t quite a ghost town, but it will be a bit more busy when the likes of skipper Callum McGregor, Anthony Ralston, Greg Taylor and David Turnbull (Scotland), Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda (Japan), Cameron Carter-Vickers (USA), Josip Juranovic (Croatia), Carl Starfelt (Sweden) and Giorgos Giakoumakis (Greece) return for duty.
Stephen Welsh, who turned out for his final game for the Scots Under-21s last month, and Matt O’Riley, who played for the Danish counterparts, are also due to come back.
MAN ON A MISSION…Ange Postecoglou on the first day of pre-season training.
THREE’S COMPANY…gaffer Ange Postecoglou, assistant boss John Kennedy and new first-team coach Harry Kewell oversee training.
BALL BHOY…Harry Kewell gets to know the Celtic players.
A PAIR OF ACES…James Forrest and James McCarthy turn up for duty.
BHOY OH BHOY…Reo Hatate looks less than impressed as he returns for a first day of training. Images courtesy Celtic TV.
CONFIRMED: CELTIC’S PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
