There has not been much good news regarding Celtic in recent times as the Hoops have struggled both on and off the pitch. They went into the ongoing international break on the back of three straight defeats.

So, the fans are looking for any bit of inspiration they can get at this point in time. Anything that shines some light on the future.

Something that has gotten a lot of supporters excited is the impending return of Jota. The Portuguese winger last played in April 2025, which was a year and a half ago.

He has been training for a few weeks now and also took part in a bounce game during the ongoing international break. But while many supporters are hoping that the return of Jota gives the team the inspiration they need, Chris Sutton has urged them to be cautious about the expectations.

Sutton has his doubts about Jota, following his long absence due to the ACL injury, which kept him out for 18 months. He wrote in his column in the Daily Record: "Jota is back. Or at least he’s getting there.

"I’ve heard plenty of excited Celtic fans saying it this week. The Portuguese star took another step towards his long-awaited return yesterday by featuring in a bounce game after 18 months on the sidelines.

"It’s music to the ears of supporters desperate to see their favourite back in the Hoops. I get that. But I’m urging caution. For me, the big question isn’t whether Jota can still produce magic. It’s which Jota are Celtic actually getting?

"Give me the Jota of his first spell and he walks straight into my top XI. He gets the captain’s armband. I’d give him a new contract.

"But the Jota who returned from Saudi Arabia and Rennes wasn’t the same player. Some of that sparkle had gone - and that was before the devastating ACL injury. He’ll feel like a new signing. But this isn’t prime Jota. He needs time - and patience - to show he can get back to those levels."

It is hard to argue with any of that. You simply cannot expect Jota to be the same player after the magnitude of the injury he is coming back from.

At his peak, Jota was one of the best players in all of Scotland, if not the very best. But that was a while back, under a very different manager, and a lot has happened since then.

At his best, Jota was a winger who could consistently help Celtic with both goals and assists. That is exactly what this team needs right now.

The problem is, Jota might no longer be capable of replicating that. This is a player who is coming off an 18-month absence. And he is believed to have dealt with many setbacks during the recovery process.

Jota will need some time, at the very least, to rediscover his rhythm. And it remains to be seen what kind of long-term impact that injury has had on him. What has it taken away from his game?

At the same time, it would be a mistake to count Jota out completely, just because he is returning from a serious injury. Perhaps he can find a way to still be one of the best wingers in the league upon his return.