Julian Araujo has returned to Mexico in a last-ditch effort to salvage his season and keep his World Cup hopes alive.
The Celtic loanee has travelled to the Centro de Alto Rendimiento (High Performance Centre) in Mexico City, where he is undergoing intensive rehabilitation after a fresh injury setback.
NO TIRA LA TOALLA👏
Julián Araujo regresó sorpresivamente al CAR para rehabilitarse de su lesión con el Celtic y jugar su última carta para llegar al Mundial 2026.
ENTÉRATE 👉🏻 https://t.co/IX8W00LR9h pic.twitter.com/1GkV90bY85
— Estadio Deportes (@EstadioDxts) April 17, 2026
It effectively represents his final push to make the upcoming summer’s tournament.
But from a Celtic perspective, his campaign is over.
Martin O’Neill has already confirmed the club are unlikely to see Araujo again this season after he re-injured himself during recovery work at parent club AFC Bournemouth.
The right-back had been closing in on a return from an issue, with hopes he could feature in the final weeks, particularly with Celtic stretched in that area.
Instead, it was another setback.
O’Neill said a few weeks back: “Julian re-injured himself under supervision at Bournemouth so that was a real blow.
“I’ve only found that out today and so I don’t think we will see him for the rest of the season.”
There is slightly better news elsewhere on the right-hand side.
Alistair Johnston will miss this weekend’s action but is expected to return during the split, offering Celtic a timely boost.
For Araujo, though, the focus has shifted. From Celtic’s run-in to a race against time, with international football now the priority with a chance to represent his country on the world’s biggest stage.
