Celtic winger Jota is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a cruciate ligament injury that will keep him out for six to nine months. The 26-year-old picked up the injury during Celtic's 5-0 victory over Dundee United, which secured their fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title.
Jota was substituted in the first half, and manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed the severity of the injury after a scan revealed it was worse than initially thought.
Rodgers expressed his disappointment over the injury, noting that while it didn’t seem too severe at first, it was clear from the results that Jota would be sidelined for a considerable period.
Despite the setback, Rodgers praised Jota's positive attitude, saying the winger remains upbeat and philosophical about his recovery. The injury not only impacts Jota but also leaves a gap in Celtic’s attacking options as they prepare for the rest of the season.
Jota had previously impressed in his first spell with Celtic, initially on loan from Benfica, before stints with Al-Ittihad and Rennes. After returning to Celtic in January, he had been expected to build on a strong pre-season and improve his fitness.
However, his injury has disrupted those plans. Rodgers highlighted that Jota had faced challenges in recent years, particularly following his move to Saudi Arabia, but remains a positive and resilient individual who will likely come back stronger.
The injury has increased the urgency for Celtic to strengthen their forward line, with Rodgers acknowledging the club's need to bolster their attack in the upcoming summer transfer market. Although improvements were always planned, Jota’s absence has highlighted the necessity of bringing in fresh talent.
Celtic’s next challenge comes in the Old Firm derby against Rangers, where they will also be missing right-back Alastair Johnston due to injury.
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