Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has confirmed the Parkhead outfit do not expect Filipe Jota to return from injury until after the currently set winter break, via quotes by the Daily Record.
The Benfica loanee has missed the Bhoys’ last four fixtures across all competitions and may miss a further four. Celtic visit St Mirren on Wednesday, before travelling to St Johnstone on Sunday and rounding out the calendar year at home to Hibernian on December 29.
Rangers will also visit Parkhead to start 2022, should the SPFL elect against moving the winter break. The Guardian note talks are underway with Sky Sports over moving the pause forward. It comes after Nicola Sturgeon imposed a limit of 500 on crowds from Boxing Day.
Celtic are among the Premiership clubs who have asked the SPFL move forward the winter break. Sky Sports agreeing to the shift in schedule would also give them a big injury boost.
Postecoglou comments on Celtic star Jota’s injury situation
Jota was a mainstay of the Celtic line-up under Postecoglou before sustaining a hamstring injury against Hearts earlier this month. He had started 18 of 18 available fixtures in green-and-white across all competitions, while also playing 90-minutes on 11 occasions.
The 22-year-old had also offered the Hoops a consistent creative option with eight goals and seven assists. Only Kyogo Furuhashi (16) and David Turnbull (9) have scored more.
Postecoglou will be keen for Jota to line up for Celtic again soon, but expects his injury will keep him out into the New Year and out of the Bhoys’ festive fixtures without any changes.
“Jota’s injury was quite significant,” Postecoglou said. “So, we don’t think we will see him back out there before the break.”
Postecoglou will be gutted if Celtic have to face St Mirren, St Johnstone, Hibernian and Rangers without Jota through injury. The Hoops are yet to lose a Premiership fixture when the winger has either scored or provided an assist.
Jota has additionally only failed to create or score a goal in five of his 11 league outings so far. He has also influenced at least 50% of Celtic’s goals during five fixtures to date.
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