‘Every possibility’ of long awaited Celtic return for Jota at Fir Park

Yang looks certain to miss out tomorrow against Motherwell as domestic football returns. Cameron Carter-Vickers has a chance of playing but will probably not be risked. However there is “every possibility” Jota could make his return from an 18-month lay-off in Celtic’s Premiership game at Motherwell on Sunday, says manager Martin O’Neill.

The 27 year old who has been sidelined for 18 months with an ACL injury picked up at Tannadice in early April 2025, recently completed 45 minutes of action in a bounce game against Falkirk.

Alistair Johnston is also nearing a first team return, but the club will be “careful” with the Canadian international, with the same applying to young Callum Osmand who is also on the comebacks trail. Neither player are expected to be in the Celtic squad tomorrow.

“Jota’s been training a wee bit more than Alistair, which is really good,” Martin O’Neill revealed yesterday at his mainstream media conference at Lennoxtown. “We had a bounce game against Falkirk, which was really good.

“These were non-international players, but at least he got some of that, which was encouraging. Alistair is just making his way back, so we just want to be careful with him. And young Callum Osmand is doing the same.

“Jota’s been training with us now for quite some considerable time. But that was the first time he’d played what I would call a semi-competitive game.”

Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Yang who suffered a hamstring strain whilst representing South Korea in the Asian Games are both doubtful after missing Friday’s training session.

“Yang’s been out, but I’ll see about Cameron,” said O’Neill. “He’s got a bit of a strain at this minute, but we’ll see how he is.”

On-loan Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo, who is yet to make his Celtic debut because of injury, is finally set to join the squad.

“Yeah, I’m hoping to see him,” said O’Neill. “With a bit of luck he’ll come up tomorrow and he’ll start with us next week. He’s not in the European squad, so he’ll hardly be travelling out to Benfica with us, or we might even get some work there. But yeah, that’s pleasing again.”