CELTIC manager Martin O’Neill has issued a significant injury update on Jota as the winger continues his attempt to make a long-awaited return.
The Portuguese wide man has not appeared for Celtic since sustaining a serious knee injury last April.
He required an operation after landing awkwardly and was forced off during the title-clinching win over Dundee United at Tannadice.
Jota was later seen on crutches and joined his team-mates on the pitch for the post-match celebrations, but he has not been back on the training field since.
He was quickly ruled out of the opening stages of the current campaign and was originally expected to return around this point in the season, before suffering a setback that pushed his recovery timeline back to April — a full year after the injury.
Now, interim boss O’Neill has offered further insight into Jota’s rehabilitation schedule.
And it is grim news for the Hoops, with the winger’s campaign seemingly over before it even began.
O’Neill has acknowledged that it is doubtful the 26-year-old will feature at all in Celtic’s title push.
“Obviously, I’d like to bolster the squad,” the 73-year-old said when questioned on squad depth.
“I don’t see, for instance, in terms of the long-term injuries, I don’t see Jota being back this season.”
It is a bitter setback for Jota, who made 14 appearances for Celtic last term prior to his injury.
He had featured in every match up to that point following his eye-catching return to the club in January.
Jota is not the only Celtic player currently sidelined.
Celtic are also without Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, Kelechi Iheanacho, Marcelo Saracchi and Callum Osmand.
Both Iheanacho and Osmand are edging closer to comebacks, and they may not be the only players to return ahead of the title run-in.
O’Neill added: “I think that Alistair Johnston would probably make a fight back, and he’s hoping to be maybe sometime in March, and that would be great if that’s the case.
“But the longer-term injuries, I don’t see it.”