Former Celtic hero backs fan favourite to restore 'Parkhead DNA' in fight to fend off Rangers title challenge

Jota, 27, is closing in on a return to match fitness after 18 months out with an ACL injury he picked up against Dundee United. The talented Portuguese player featured for 45 minutes in a bounce game against Falkirk during the international break, and Celtic boss Martin O’Neill is hoping he’ll be available for selection soon.

Looking to arrest an alarming run of form that has seen them lose their last three games in all competitions, including back-to-back defeats against rivals Rangers, McGeady admits that the club have missed of player of Jota’s ilk, and thinks his return will add a new dimension to O’Neill’s squad as they look to get back to winning ways.

“It's one of the most important parts of the team,” said McGeady. “Celtic have always had good wide players. Going all the way back to the 60s, it's been part of Celtic's DNA. You're looking at your striker and your two wide players as the three most important parts on the pitch for getting goals. And at the minute, Celtic are struggling in that department. It's something that Celtic have always been built on. And a lot of that goes down to players out of form and recruitment and things like that. But it's obviously important to get great players like Jota back."

“I don't want to put too much pressure on him because he's been out for the best part of 18 months. People are expecting him to come back and be the same player that he was before. I think that will obviously be a bit difficult. It's going to take a lot of time to get his fitness back up to scratch and become comfortable again with doing the things he was good at before. But obviously it's a big bonus to have him back because Celtic are struggling for wide players."

In the absence of in-form wingers, O’Neill has often utilised summer signing Camilo Duran off the flanks. The Colombian started his Celtic career in impressive form with six goals in his first six games. However, he has stuttered of late and failed to score in any of his last five games for the Hoops stretching back to September 2. With Jota now verging on a return, McGeady is hoping to see more of Duran in his natural position of centre-forward.

“I prefer him in the middle,” explained McGeady. “He did well at the start of the season, playing wide. But I do think he's nullified playing on the side, to an extent. He's still a very good player. But I prefer him in the middle. Then it's that conundrum of what Martin O'Neill does about his team and his formation, to try to get the best out of everyone. He wants to play [Kasper] Hogh, he's a big money signing. How does he get Duran in? Unless he goes to a two up front. These are the problems that the manager's got to deal with.

“He could go for a four midfield in a diamond. He could then get two strikers in and get the ball in the box, which he kind of tried to do against Rangers. But obviously it didn't quite work because there's no real creative players on the pitch. And that's obviously a difficult thing to see against Rangers, struggling to create chances."

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