Celtic go 16 points ahead of Rangers with comfortable win over Dundee United

Jota and Adam Idah both hit spectacular goals as Celtic moved 16 points clear of Rangers in the William Hill Premiership with a routine 3-0 home victory over Dundee United.

Portuguese winger Jota was handed his second start since returning to Glasgow last month and responded with his second goal.

The 25-year-old collected the ball near the left touchline, cut in past United right-back Emmanuel Adegboyega and side-footed a shot inside the far corner from 18 yards.

The 35th-minute goal doubled Celtic's lead after Callum McGregor’s opener and Jota created several chances as he gave manager Brendan Rodgers some food for thought ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League play-off second leg against Bayern Munich.

Rodgers rested Daizen Maeda from the start after the Japan international netted for Celtic in Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat by the Germans and caused them plenty of problems after moving from the wing into a centre-forward position.

Jota’s performance could persuade Rodgers to start the former Benfica winger in Munich and unleash Maeda on Bayern’s centre-backs.

But Idah delivered a late example of what he is capable of when he brought down a headed clearance on the edge of the box and volleyed into the top corner to notch his fifth goal in five matches.

Maeda, Greg Taylor, Arne Engels and Nicolas Kuhn were all handed substitute roles after starting against Bayern.

United started with a back four, with recent signing Allan Campbell pushing forward to support striker Sam Dalby.

Visiting goalkeeper Jack Walton survived the first quarter of the game without having a shot to save, as efforts from Idah and Cameron Carter-Vickers flew off target.

But McGregor took matters into his own hands after collecting a pass from Yang Hyun-jun. The