Martin O’Neill’s Jota reassurance: “I don’t see this as being a career-threatening injury”
Martin O’Neill’s Jota reassurance: “I don’t see this as being a career-threatening injury” After Martin O’Neill confirmed in his behind-a-paywall interview with Gerry McCulloch on Celtic TV earlier this week that Jota alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers were out for the rest of this season, rumours have started to circulate about our Portuguese superstar’s career being permanently hindered by the ACL injury picked up at Tannadice a year ago. Arne Engels and Nicolas Kuhn look on as Jota receives treatment. Dundee United 0 Celtic 5 at Tannadice Park on April 26, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Asked about these rumours that Jota’s career could be effectively over yesterday afternoon by the mainstream media, the interim Celtic manager went out of his way to re-assure the Celtic support that Jota would be back in action next season.
“He’s been out for a long time. In his rehab, he’s had a couple of setbacks,” Martin O’Neill explained, as reported by Scottish Sun . “I had a conversation with him about where he is with all of this.
He had a consultation with a surgeon down in London a few days ago. He’s come back. Jota is assisted by Reo Hatate.
Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star) “Just when he thinks he’s going great, he gets a bit of a setback; it’s just the length of time that you’re out.
These types of injuries, you think it’s straightforward, sometimes they’re not and you’re stopped in your tracks when you think you’re going well. “I would be hoping that whoever is going to be in charge of the football club, that Jota would be ready for pre-season. That’s what I would be hoping for.