Jota returns as Celtic beat Motherwell 2-0 to reclaim Premiership lead

Celtic returned to the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 2-0 win at Motherwell on Sunday, ending a run of three consecutive defeats. According to BBC Sport, the victory at Fir Park also brought a significant return for Martin O'Neill's side, with Portuguese winger Jota appearing after almost 18 months out injured.

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Camilo Duran gave Celtic an early lead before Benjamin Nygren added the second goal after the interval. The result marked a winning return from the international break, following a sequence in which Celtic had lost three matches in one week. Two of those defeats had come against Rangers, adding to the pressure surrounding the club and its manager.

Jota entered the match as a substitute in the 74th minute and came close to creating a goal with his first touches. The 27-year-old then led the celebrations after the final whistle. His involvement gave Celtic another positive from an afternoon that combined a return to winning ways with the recovery of first place in the league.

Speaking to Sky Sports in comments carried by the BBC, Jota said he had worked hard during his absence and received help from his team-mates. He described feeling nervous before going on but settling once he was on the pitch. The winger also spoke about the emotional difficulty of being unable to play, saying he now felt good and wanted to increase his involvement and help the team.

The win followed unrest beyond Celtic's recent results. BBC Sport reported that the club's largest shareholder, Dermot Desmond, had been targeted by a protest during the Alfred Dunhill Links golf tournament in St Andrews. O'Neill had also questioned whether he had the energy to remain manager after Rangers won at Parkhead last month, before subsequently committing to continue in the role.

After the Motherwell victory, O'Neill acknowledged that Celtic had brought some of the recent criticism upon themselves. He pointed to the three defeats, including the two against their rivals, and said the team had responded on Sunday. The result ended that losing sequence while Jota's appearance completed his long-awaited return to match action.