Jota breaks silence as Celtic hero FINALLY brings Saudi nightmare to an end with one liner

Misfit Jota has finally brought his Al-Ittihad exile to an end with boss Marcelo Gallardo giving the winger his Saudi Pro League shot.

The Celtic hero has endured a nightmare season in the Middle East following his £25m departure from the Scottish Premiership - with former boss Nuno not registering the Portuguese star for the list of foreign players allowed in the league squad. That left the 24-year-old all-but forgotten by the defending Saudi champions with cup competitions and occasional Asian Champions League appearances all that the attacker was allowed since his transfer.

However, after failing to secure a return to Europe in January Argentine Gallardo has drafted the wide man back into the fold by adding the forgotten star to the updated squad list. Jota had been included in the eight overseas players allowed in each squad list in January by Ittihad when Pro League sides are allowed to shake up their choices - but had been kept out due to a muscle injury.

But he made his first appearance since December during a late cameo off the bench in the win over Al-Akhoud to bring his nightmare to an end. Boss Gallardo added during his post-match debrief: "We wanted to give Jota some minutes. We want him to get into a groove because he was absent for a long time."

And the man himself took a light-hearted approach to his return on social media. Posting to his Instagram, Jota appeared to poke fun at his extended absence. He wrote: "Work?! Back to my job."