Celtic's winger Jota will not be part of the squad for the upcoming UEFA Europa League matches, as he continues to recover from a long-term injury. The Portuguese player, who has been sidelined since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in April 2025, was left out of the 25-man squad announced by the club. Alongside Jota, three of Celtic's recent summer signings—19-year-old Joel van den Berg from PSV Eindhoven, forward Shim Mheuka, and midfielder Landon Emenalo, both on loan from Chelsea—will also miss out on the European competition.
Jota, who returned to training last month, is still a few weeks away from full fitness, according to assistant manager Shaun Maloney. His absence is a significant blow for Celtic, as they aim to make a strong impression in the Europa League following their disappointment in the Champions League qualification.
Despite the setbacks, forward Callum Osmand has made the squad, overcoming his own injury concerns. Manager Martin O'Neill acknowledged the tough decisions involved in finalizing the squad, emphasizing the importance of focusing on domestic competitions. "There are obviously some very tough decisions to be made in putting this squad together for the Europa League," O'Neill stated.
O'Neill also expressed a commitment to the domestic league, indicating that the players signed during the transfer window should first aim to make an impact in Scotland. He remarked, "It’s a difficult list and, for me, the most important thing is our domestic football." The manager is optimistic about the prospects of the Europa League, stating, "Of course, we’re disappointed about the Champions League, but the Europa League is still very strong and we want to try and do as well as we possibly can in that."
As Celtic prepares for the Europa League, they retain the option to modify their squad should they progress from the group stage. O'Neill hinted at the possibility of changes in February if the team remains competitive in the tournament. This flexibility could be crucial as Celtic navigates both European and domestic challenges in the coming months.
The full squad for the Europa League includes goalkeepers Viljami Sinisalo, Sam Johnstone, and Ross Doohan. The defensive lineup features Alistair Johnston, Jordan Lotomba, Liam Scales, Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Dane Murray, Colby Donovan, Anthony Ralston, and Kieran Tierney. In midfield, the team boasts Benjamin Nygren, Luke McCowan, Oliver Sørensen, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mika Baur, and captain Callum McGregor. Forwards in the squad include Kasper Høgh, Camilo Duran, Yang Hyun-jun, Sebastian Tounekti, Callum Osmand, Haissem Hassan, and veteran James Forrest.
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