Jota is set to witness his first Celtic action in 18 months during a specially-arranged Lennoxtown bounce game.
The Parkhead club have fixed up a match behind closed doors against Premiership Falkirk at Lennoxtown tomorrow.
Sidelined since April last year with an ACL rupture Jota’s return is part of a calibrated recovery plan drawn up to restore the £9million Portuguese talisman to first team action in the next month.
The 27-year-old last played in a 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice last year when Brendan Rodgers was still the manager.
Yet to feature under Martin O’Neill the fans’ favourite has spent much of his recovery time at home in Lisbon and his return to playing provides a timely boost to the champions after successive defeats to Rangers (twice) and Ferencvaros before the international break.
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Brendan Rodgers, meanwhile, is set to return to Glasgow to address supporters for the first time since his acrimonious Celtic exit.
The move comes after the former manager’s departure brought accusations of ‘divisive, misleading and self serving’ behaviour from controlling shareholder Dermot Desmond in an excoriating statement.
The 53-year-old has since joined Saudi Pro League outfit Al Qadsiah but will be back in Scotland for an audience event hosted by the Celtic State of Mind fan media site at the Royal Concert Hall on Monday June 14 next year.
