Reasons to be cheerful for Celtic supporters – Mika, Jota and Martin O’Neill | OneFootball

Let’s try to find some positivity around Celtic as we get closer to a return to action next Sunday for the Scottish Premiership leaders…

October 1, 2026 Germany vs. Serbia, Munich, October 1, 2026, Soccer, Nations League, 20262027 Season, Germany vs. Serbia, Mika Baur, Germany. Photo IMAGO

The Mika Baur dream international debut, making a little piece of history by becoming the 1000th player to play for Germany, will see him return to Lennoxtown in a better frame of mind than he left to join up with Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

‘The toughest league in the world’ returns next weekend

Celtic is going to need all the positivity we can muster inside the club over the next week as we look towards the return to Scottish Premiership action a week on Sunday away to Motherwell.

Jota of Celtic scores their team’s second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and theRangers at Celtic Park Stadium on September 03, 2022. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Superstar from Portugal

It was at Fir Park that Jota made his Celtic return, breaking down in tears after scoring following a difficult period at both Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad and French top flight side Rennes where game-time was hard to come by for the hitherto Celtic ‘Superstar from Portugal’.

Today Jota makes his latest comeback of sorts when he plays in a specially arranged bounce match at Lennoxtown against Falkirk. It’s a significant stepping stone for the 27 year old whose last action was in the title winning day at Tannadice two seasons ago which saw Jota suffer an ACL rupture injury which has seen him sidelined for the best part of 19 months.

Jota of Celtic receives treatment before leaving the field during the ScottishPremiership match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Halloween return for Jota is on schedule

Jota worked on his recuperation back home in Lisbon with a limited time spend at Lennoxtown.

His recovery and return to action has been discussed by both Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney in various media conferences and both have signalled a return to the first team around about Halloween.

Jota of Celtic takes part in the Celtic Champions Training Day at Celtic Park on July 18, 2022. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Today’s game is a significant first step as there is no doubt that Jota rejoining the squad will deliver another feel good factor around the club and will give Martin O’Neill more options in the wide areas.

Martin O’Neill arrives at the stadium. Celtic v Rangers. Scottish Premiership. 20 September 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

No news is good news as far as Martin O’Neill remaining as Celtic manager

That of course is assuming that there will be no change at Celtic in the dugout for the game at Fir Park and beyond. After the three recent defeats to the Rangers twice and Ferencvaros, Martin stated that he would take a few days to reflect on matters and consider his own position.

Since then we’ve heard nothing at all from the club so in the absence of any updates regarding changes we can only assume that Martin O’Neill remains in charge and will return with some thoughts of his own regarding fixing the mess the team ended up in particularly in our most recent match.

October 1, 2026, Soccer: 20262027 UEFA Nations League, Matchday 3, Germany vs. Serbia, at the Allianz Arena in Munich from left: Mika Baur Germany and Filip Kostic Serbia. Photo IMAGO

So Mika Baur on cloud nine, Jota on his way back and a refreshed manager looking to get Celtic back on track gives us some reasons to be cheerful…

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Celtic in the Fifties by Matt Corr, in two volumes, both published on 4th September 2026 by Celtic Star Books. Click on image to order.

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