Celtic Eye Jota’s Return as Maloney Hopes for Speedy Comeback

Celtic winger Rúben Jota might make his comeback sooner than anticipated, according to Shaun Maloney, who has returned to light training after 16 months out. Meanwhile, the club is close to signing Egypt international Haissem Hassan to strengthen their attack.

Celtic Hope for Early Return of Jota

Rúben Jota, a key player for Celtic, has taken significant steps towards returning from a long-term injury. The Portuguese winger, sidelined since April 2025 due to an ACL injury, is now back in light first-team training at Lennoxtown after 16 months away from competitive action.

Shaun Maloney, who has been closely involved with Jota's rehabilitation, remains optimistic about the player's return. He said: 'Yeah, definitely. It might take a bit of time and hard work. He's definitely putting in the hours. He looks really strong. He's got every chance. I think it might take a bit of time.'

Maloney also highlighted the importance of creating a similar pre-season environment for Jota as Cameron Carter-Vickers had, who returned from an 8-9 month injury after a full pre-season.

New Additions to Celtic’s Attack

Celtic is not resting on its laurels and continues to strengthen its squad. The club has already spent £17 million on new signings Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran, with Haissem Hassan set to join the team soon. Hassan, a 24-year-old from Real Oviedo, could be the final piece in Celtic’s revamped attack.

Maloney expressed confidence in the attacking options available: 'On that left side, when Jota comes back, you'll have Tounekti and Yang. Yang obviously played there in the last game. I really like Yang off the left. Yeah, it's really strong.'

However, on the right side, Maloney acknowledged a need to replace Nicolas Kuhn, who provided a unique attacking profile for the team.

Support from Medical Team and Staff

Jota’s rehabilitation has been closely monitored by Celtic’s medical staff, with regular communication between Jota and the physiotherapists. Maloney praised the medical team for their support during this challenging period: 'The medical team are really important. As can happen in longer injuries, he's got a really good connection with the physios. They're probably the more important than us.'

Maloney also highlighted the positive role of Martin O’Neill and Fozzy in keeping Jota motivated during his recovery.