Forgotten Celtic star shines for loan club as fans say Jota's injury could ‘open doors'
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CELTIC are still reeling from the news that Jota could be out for up to NINE months with an ACL injury.
The winger's horror knock could force Brendan Rodgers into a hunt for replacements as it could be 2026 before the Portuguese returns.
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Jota's long-term injury could force Celtic into a search for his replacement
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
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One of the Hoops' loanees is a winger and is set to return to Parkhead this summer
Credit: Willie Vass
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Marco Tilio scored another goal for Melbourne City last night
Credit: Getty
One wideman still on Celtic's books is Marco Tilio.
The Australian signed for Celts from Melbourne City back in summer 2023, but made just two appearances before injury troubles of his own derailed his start to life at Parkhead.
He returned to Melbourne on loan, but is set to return to Glasgow in the summer and could be under consideration to reinforce the Hoops on the flanks.
He hit his latest A-League goal last night, taking him to five for the season, with some impressed fans taking to X, formerly Twitter, to discuss the 23-year-old's prospects.
One supporter said: "Jota's injury is horrific both for himself and us but perhaps a door opens for someone else."
Another posted: "This is lovely from Marco Tilio, so good to see him fit and scoring goals again.
"Great for him and Celtic."
A third said: "He looks to be a player every time I watch him."
Tilio had previously opened up on his struggles with being out of the Celtic team with a bad hamstring injury, and his ambition to return strongly.
He reflected: "It was hard.
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"In my head I thought I would only be out a week or so, and up until that point I had never been injured in my career, so I thought I would be fine.
"But then, when I came back to London and did a medical, they said I had done a grade three hamstring tear, so that was a 12-week injury, and I did that rehab all through the Celtic pre-season.
"Being injured was new to me, I did not know the whole rehab side of it and how you approach it, but obviously I learnt it very quickly.
"It does build up and get a lot [mentally], but it also fuels you, you want to stay out there and play.
"I thought 'enough is enough', I want to do everything I can to make sure I am there playing, and if I am playing consistently, I know what I'm capable of.
"I'd like to think [next season] I am playing consistently over in Europe."
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