Celtic supporters have spent around 500 days waiting for one of their most familiar faces to return to the football pitch.
Now, after an incredibly long absence, there is finally a major update on Jota’s road back to first-team football.
The Portuguese winger has been away from Celtic action for a lengthy period, leaving supporters waiting patiently for the moment when they could finally see him back in the famous green and white.
That moment now appears to be getting closer.
Reports indicate that Jota is expected to take part in a bounce game during the international break as he continues his journey towards a return to competitive first-team football.
For Celtic fans, that is significant.
A bounce game may not carry the same atmosphere or pressure as a competitive fixture at Celtic Park, but for a player who has spent roughly 500 days away from the first team, simply getting back onto the pitch represents another important stage in the process.
And that is exactly why the latest update has attracted so much attention.
Jota’s Celtic story has already given supporters plenty of memorable moments.
During his previous spell at the club, the winger became a popular figure among the Celtic support, with his performances, attacking ability and style of play making him one of the players fans loved watching.
His absence, therefore, has been felt.
For months, supporters have had to wait, wonder and follow every update surrounding his recovery and potential return.
Now there is finally something concrete to focus on.
The possibility of Jota appearing in a bounce game during the international break gives Celtic supporters another reason to believe that the long road back is moving into a new phase.
It is important, however, that a bounce-game appearance should not automatically be interpreted as an immediate first-team return.
The purpose of these matches is to help players build up their fitness, sharpness and match rhythm in a controlled environment.
For Jota, that process could prove particularly important after such a long period away from competitive football.
The biggest challenge will be getting back to the level required for first-team football.
That means rebuilding match fitness, regaining sharpness and continuing to progress step by step.
But the fact that the conversation has now moved towards him potentially playing again is enough to excite Celtic supporters.
For a player who has been out for around 500 days, every step matters.
The anticipation surrounding Jota has also created a huge emotional element to the story.
Celtic fans have not forgotten the player.
His name remains familiar around the club, and the possibility of seeing him back in action naturally brings memories of his previous performances.
That is why the latest update has generated such a reaction.
After such a long wait, supporters are understandably eager to see how Jota looks once he is finally able to get meaningful minutes under his belt again.
There is still work to do before a full competitive return.
But the latest development represents another milestone.
Instead of simply waiting for news about his recovery, Celtic fans now have a potential on-pitch appearance during the international break to look forward to.
And that changes the feeling around the comeback.
The road back has been extremely long.
Approximately 500 days is an enormous amount of time for any footballer to spend away from first-team action.
For Jota, the next stage will therefore be about patience and progression rather than rushing the process.
The objective will be to get him back playing football and gradually move him towards the level required to compete again.
For Celtic supporters, though, the message is simple.
Jota is getting closer.
The long wait is not necessarily over yet, but the comeback journey is clearly entering another stage.
A bounce game during the international break could provide an important opportunity for him to take another step forward, and every successful step will increase the anticipation surrounding his eventual return to competitive action.
For now, Celtic fans can allow themselves to get excited about seeing Jota back on a football pitch.
After around 500 days away, even a small appearance represents something supporters have been waiting an incredibly long time to see.
The comeback story is moving again.
And Celtic supporters will be watching closely.
The question now is no longer simply whether Jota will return to football.
It is how quickly he can progress through the remaining stages of his comeback and eventually get himself back into contention for Celtic’s first team.
After 500 days, the wait has entered a new chapter.
And for Celtic fans, that alone is enough to get people talking. 😳🍀