Ange Postecoglou delivers Jota Celtic injury update as eleventh hour decision to be made on star man

Ange Postecoglou will make an eleventh hour call on Jota after the Celtic boss confirmed the Portuguese start is a major doubt for the Champions League clash with RB Leipzig.

The Aussie played down fears over the former Benfica man when he was taken off at half-time during the champions’ last-gasp win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, saying it was down to “fatigue”.

But now the Celtic boss admits Jota – who missed training on Monday morning – is “sore” and toiling ahead of the showdown with the Germans. He said: "All the players are important in different ways. With the short turnaround it's not unusual for someone not to be right the day before a game when we've got such a quick turnaround. It's just a matter of whether he's right or not. If he's right we'll play him and if not then he'll miss out."

RB Leipzig jumped above the Hoops with a 3-1 win in the Red Bull Arena last week - with Jota scoring for the Scottish Premiership champions - and can end Celtic's hopes of reaching the knockout stage with a win.

Jota has been a key player for the Hoops both on loan last season and this season after his move from Benfica was made permanent with the star making 12 appearances. Celtic are already without skipper Callum McGregor who is out until after the World Cup and the loss of Jota would be a huge blow in a game where the Parkhead side need to avoid defeat to have a chance of reaching the Champions League knockout stage. But there was better news as David Turnbull returned to training.

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