Martin O'Neill told to be 'very careful' with Jota as new Celtic 'concern' emerges

Jota made his competitive return against Motherwell after nearly two years out with a cruciate ligament injury, but Celtic have been warned to manage his minutes carefully to avoid setbacks.

Jota returned to competitive action for Celtic in the 2-0 win at Motherwell on 7 October, coming off the bench in the 73rd minute after an almost two-year absence following a cruciate ligament injury suffered in April 2025. Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown and ex-Aberdeen CEO Keith Wyness have both warned manager Martin O'Neill that the 27-year-old winger must be managed carefully, with recovery potentially taking months. Experts suggest Celtic risk further injury if they rush Jota back into regular first-team action too soon.