Ange gives Jota update and admits defender will be out for a number of weeks
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Aberdeen - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - July 31, 2022 Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Jota will miss his third match on the bounce when Celtic visit Motherwell tomorrow in the League Cup.
The winger was replaced at half-time in the 2-1 win over St Johnstone due to fatigue and has yet to return to action.
It seems that there he has suffered some minor injury with Saturday’s match against Hearts a more realistic timescale for his return to action.
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Question: Is Jota back for this one?
AP: No, Jota is progressing, he is training but he won’t be right for tomorrow. I think from the weekend it will probably be as is. The one’s closest to coming back I guess are Jota and Turnbull but I guess they will miss tomorrow and we will just see about the weekend. Obviously Cal (McGregor) and Carl (Starfelt) are still weeks away.
Starfelt last played on September 3, with four weeks left before the World Cup break it looks like he might not be back playing again until December.
Giorgos Giakoumakis had to go off during Saturday’s match against Hibs while the prospect of scoring a hat-trick was still on but it appears that he has shrugged off that knock.
Squad rotation will continue to be a big factor in team selection with Hearts and Shakhtar Donetsk coming up within seven days.
Tony Ralston and Alexandro Bernabei both impressed at full-back against Hibs which could tempt Postecoglou in to sticking with them before bringing back Josip Juranovic and Greg Taylor for Tynecastle on Saturday.
Stephen Welsh is also on the injured list.