Celtic face Jota decision this summer after Martin O’Neill confirms he will not return this season

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A lot has happened since the last time Jota was on the field for Celtic.

Jota hasn’t featured for Celtic since Brendan Rodgers guided the club to a title-clinching win at Dundee United last term – since then, Wilfried Nancy and Martin O’Neill (twice) have taken to the dugout.

Many were hoping the all-action winger would be back from his Achilles injury this season, but as Martin O’Neill has unfortunately confirmed, that won’t be the case.

“Jota and Carter-Vickers will not be available to us until next season,” O’Neill told Celtic TV.

This is a crying shame for all involved, because it will take it beyond a year since Jota was on the pitch, and that’s a problematic situation to be in for the player.

Regardless of what happens from now until the end of the season, there will be major changes at Celtic this summer, and some harsh calls have to be made regarding the Jota situation.

• READ MORE: When James Forrest almost left Celtic after rejecting a new contract

Has O’Neill been soft in his approach since returning to Celtic?

Chris Sutton thinks so!

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Celtic need to find a Jota replacement

Even with the mess Celtic are in this season and the major issues in attack, many were hoping to see Jota return this season and then watch him get back to his best next term.

But given that he isn’t even back on the pitch, the powers that be at Parkhead simply can’t rely on him for the following campaign because of his delicate situation.

It’s hard enough returning from a long-term injury, never mind one that is set to keep you out of action for over a year.

Yes, with a major overhaul expected in the summer, including a new manager, a left-sided attacker was needed, especially given that someone like Daizen Maeda will leave.

But you sense that extra few faces will need to be brought in for that role, and the new manager has to plan without Jota because you just don’t know how his situation will turn out.

Even if Jota is back on the pitch, you can’t seriously expect him to be at his dynamic and free-flowing best.

Either way, all of this is a huge shame because there aren’t many better players to watch on their day than Jota, and he is exactly what the champions of Scotland have been missing this term.