Martin O’Neill has said that Jota is still a ‘little off’ being able to start for Celtic, despite his performance off the bench in Wednesday’s draw with Dundee United.

The winger made a fourth substitute appearance since his long-awaited return from injury earlier this month, and made an impact by providing the assist for Liam Scales’ equaliser.

Both he and Haissem Hassan became the driving force behind all of the team’s attacks, but the Hoops ultimately didn’t do enough to claim the three points.

Could that change with Jota starting? Asked about the possibility, the Celtic boss tempered expectations over the fan-favourite from Portugal.

Martin O’Neill on Jota: ‘It’s going to take a bit of time’

Asked about whether the winger was close to starting after the game, O’Neill warned: “Well, I think that’s a little off at the moment. Yeah, a little off. When he was here the first time, obviously, I wasn’t here.

“I hear very good things about him. He was a really fine player. And yeah, so if he could get back to that type of form, which is going to take a little bit of time, having been so long out of the game.”

On his half-time substitutes in general, O’Neill continued: “I thought we needed it. Young Callum Osmand, his natural position is a striker or playing alongside somebody that’s got a bit of strength. I’ve been really pleased with him. But we made the changes.

“Kasper, again, I thought worked really hard in the match for us. He set up the goal for us as well. But we just wanted a change, and we thought, ‘We’re going to go wide with the two players who can take people on.’

“Yeah, sometimes you’re gambling as well. So, as I said to you about United on the break… and then one occasion, we played a short corner, lost it, and Mika Baur makes a fantastic effort to get back and save the night for us. But yeah, we’re still pleased with the team.”

Jota missed a staggering 75 games over the course of his Celtic injury. Across over 500 days of absence, the Portuguese winger missed three managerial changes and three trophy lifts and everything. His return to the pitch against Motherwell earlier in this month was an emotional moment.