Celtic have had their problems in recent times, there is no doubt about that. And they need a few players to step up to the plate and be counted on in these difficult moments for the team. They barely hold a narrow four-point lead over Derek McInnes' Rangers at the moment.

The Hoops have had problems going forward. You never know which version of the team you are going to get this season.

Is it going to be the one that puts seven goals past Hearts? Or is it going to be the one that barely scrapes past the bottom team in the league table? You have seen both happen in recent weeks.

One of the rare positives for Celtic lately has been the return of Jota to fitness. The Portuguese winger spent 18 months out on the sidelines recovering from an injury. It is good to see him back.

He has been getting more and more time off the bench lately. So, is it possible that we could see Jota in the starting lineup again soon? The answer seems to be no.

When Martin O'Neill was asked whether Jota was close to starting, the Celtic manager said: “Well, I think that’s a little off at the moment. Yeah, a little off. When he was here the first time, obviously, I wasn’t here."

Of course, it is important that the club take it lightly with Jota and gradually get him back into the groove, rather than rushing anything.

This is a player who is returning from what is most likely going to be a career-altering period. He spent 18 months out of action, which including setbacks on his road to recovery.

You simply cannot expect Jota to be the same player after that. But if he can get anywhere near his best, Celtic still have a terrific talent on their hands. Most probably someone who will improve the team from what we have seen in the past few months.

Celtic's options have looked particularly weak on the wings lately. Sebastian Tounekti simply has not been able to provide what the club would want from him. It feels like a lifetime ago when he was exciting the fanbase upon his arrival last year. Right now, most supporters would rather see him on the bench.

Unfortunately, Yang Hyun-jun had his fitness issues and international duties recently as well, which has meant that O'Neill has had to rely on Callum Osmand, a natural striker, as an option on the wing.

Now, with the return of Yang and Jota to fitness, one would hope that the Hoops are much more sorted in that area of the pitch for the foreseeable future.