Rangers supporters have been handed another reason to smile this week after fresh injury news emerged from the other side of the city - and it centres on one of Celtic’s biggest attacking names.
Returning Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has confirmed that key Hoops playmaker Jota is now expected to miss the remainder of the season, joining Cameron Carter-Vickers on the sidelines for the long term.
The Portuguese winger has already been out of action since last April, and the latest update suggests he could be facing more than a year away from competitive football.
For Rangers fans, the timing - and the scale - of the setback has not gone unnoticed.
One supporter summed up the mood simply: “Hilarious.”
Another took aim at the pre-January optimism that had surrounded Celtic’s attacking options: “But… but… but… what about having Maeda, Kyogo and Jota back as the front three??”
Kyogo, the former Celtic striker, turned down a return to Glasgow earlier this month with the Japanese international opting to fight for his place at English Championship side Birmingham City whilst Daizen Maeda has been linked with a move to German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, where he would coincidentally and hilariously be replacing Rangers-bound Andreas Skov Olsen.
With the title race already intense, the absence of two key players for Celtic is seen by many Rangers fans as a significant blow to their rivals’ hopes.
“It seems to be one thing after another for that mob,” another fan joked.
“They have my deepest sympathy of course,” with their tongue firmly locked in their cheek.
And perhaps the most telling reaction of all: “Beautiful. I’ll definitely read this again.”
Jota’s injury situation has been a source of confusion for Celtic supporters for months.
Initially, there was optimism that he could return by November, then January. Now, it appears that even those timelines were wildly optimistic.
One Celtic fan admitted: “As expected. He might not be the same player however ACL requires minimum year out to prevent reoccurrence. You don’t rush back an ACL.”
Others, however, have been far less convinced by how the situation has been handled.
“Why is he going to be out for over a year? I thought he was meant to be back by November then it was January. What’s going on?” asked one supporter, echoing the frustration felt by many.
The club’s medical department has also come under scrutiny, with long-term injuries seemingly dragging on well beyond their original estimates.
“A shocking indictment on how bad a physio team must be as well,” one fan claimed.
“All the long-term injuries have been extended by at least three months. Nothing short of a joke.”
Some have even suggested there could be more behind the scenes than just injury recovery.
“Some things are a miss here,” another Celtic supporter wrote.
“In September he was doing water and warm weather training.
“He doesn’t want to be here - that’s the real story.”
Whether that theory holds any truth or not, the reality remains that Jota, once seen as a potential game-changer on his return, now looks set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines.
For Rangers fans, the news is viewed as yet another advantage in a season where fine margins could decide everything.
With Celtic missing two experienced, influential players for the long haul, the pressure is firmly on their remaining squad to deliver - while Rangers look to capitalise.
The idea of a fully-fit Maeda, Kyogo and Jota front three had been floated repeatedly by Celtic supporters earlier in the month.
That vision now feels more like fantasy than reality.
Instead, Rangers fans are enjoying a moment of schadenfreude, watching their rivals wrestle with injury setbacks, medical questions, and growing frustration among their own support whilst Rangers push ahead with a swift barrage of big January deals.