Celtic Weigh Jota Return as O’Neill Plans January Winger Move

Celtic face Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday, October 11, with manager Martin O’Neill assessing his squad and considering attacking reinforcements after three consecutive defeats across all competitions. Portuguese winger Jota could return after approximately 18 months out with a serious knee injury, while concerns over other players complicate preparations for the Scottish Premiership fixture.

According to Read Celtic, Jota recently completed 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Falkirk and has increased his participation in first-team training. His potential availability offers Celtic an attacking option as they attempt to recover from two defeats against Rangers and another loss during their recent run.

O’Neill said there was every possibility the winger could feature against Motherwell. However, the manager must consider the length of Jota’s absence before deciding how much competitive action he can handle.

Reports published by BBC Sport on October 9 identified former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan as another source of optimism about the winger’s potential impact. Allan believes Jota’s technical ability and attacking output could help restore confidence within the squad, although he did not expect the player necessarily to start.

Allan said, "I think that player could be Jota, I really do."

Allan cited information he had received about Jota’s training and his performance against Falkirk. The winger has missed 64 club games since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in April 2025, according to Yahoo Sports coverage published October 11.

Allan said, "Ultimately he's a really good football player. He's one of the wingers where he doesn't necessarily rely on pace because he's got that good technical ability and what he has shown in the Celtic jersey is he has end product, he's got quality."

He also highlighted Jota’s ability to create chances and score important goals, arguing that his return could strengthen Celtic’s attacking threat during a difficult period.

Allan said, "If you give him half a yard, he can put a ball in the box, he can go past guys and he can score a big goal."

He compared the potential boost to Daizen Maeda’s contribution to Celtic’s title campaign the previous season. Allan believes Jota’s presence could offer the squad renewed confidence, even if the winger initially plays limited minutes.

Allan said, "I think if I'm a player in that changing room and you see someone with that quality come back into your squad, he might just be the lift that Celtic need at this moment."

Allan stressed that a substitute appearance would be a realistic possibility rather than an immediate return to the starting lineup.

Allan said, "I'm not saying I expect him to start the game, but I wouldn't be surprised if you see him come on at Fir Park."

The former midfielder also pointed to the shortage of comparable attacking quality elsewhere in the squad, making Jota’s recovery particularly significant for O’Neill’s plans.

Allan said, "I think the fans and players and Martin O'Neill will be absolutely delighted to have someone of that quality back because Celtic don't have the level of quality that Jota has in other positions that can really go and hurt teams."

Allan said, "He could be a real catalyst for Celtic going forward now."

Despite the encouragement surrounding Jota, Celtic continue to face questions about the depth of their wide attacking positions. Yahoo Sports reported on October 11 that the club could pursue a winger in January if the Portuguese forward takes time to regain his previous level.

Football Insider reported that Celtic had considered wide attackers during the summer transfer window and could revisit their plans. The club signed Haissem Hassan, but his early performances at Parkhead have been mixed, while other potential targets were not secured.

A right-sided attacker is understood to be a priority in the club’s recruitment planning. Danish international Gustav Isaksen has emerged as a possible option after strong performances for Denmark in the Nations League against Wales, although his limited league starts for Lazio could influence his situation in the January window.

Former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness warned on October 7 that Celtic should avoid rushing Jota’s recovery to satisfy supporters. Even if the winger returns against Motherwell, the club expects that rebuilding match fitness and reaching his previous level could take time.

O’Neill must also assess defensive and attacking availability before selecting his lineup. Read Celtic reported that Cameron Carter-Vickers missed Friday training while managing a strain, while Yang Hyun-jun was absent after South Korea’s Asian Games campaign and had experienced hamstring problems.

Alistair Johnston and striker Callum Osmand have returned to grass-based training during their injury recoveries, but their readiness remains uncertain. Chelsea loanee Landon Emenalo is also approaching a return to squad training, although the Motherwell match may come too soon.

O’Neill could return to a back four after a tactical experiment against Rangers failed to produce the desired result. Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney and Auston Trusty are among the players expected to have important roles, while Kasper Høgh and Camilo Durán are options for the central attacking position.

Motherwell enter the match after losing three consecutive league games, according to Read Celtic. The fixture opens a demanding period for Celtic, whose immediate objective is to end their losing streak at Fir Park before the uncertainty surrounding Jota’s longer-term contribution and January recruitment comes into sharper focus.