As the Danish international prepared to fly back to Britain with his team-mates for a testimonial match in Norwich tonight, he hailed the club's sunshine break in Florida as a significant boost to his recovery from the life-threatening Guillane-Barre syndrome.

He said: 'Now I can't wait for the moment when I run out again at Parkhead.'

Hospitalised for two months after sustaining the brain virus during Celtic's UEFA Cup trip to Finland, the 29-year-old last month exclusively told Soccernet of his attempts to rebuild his life and career in the wake of the mysterious ailment.

And, after tentatively juggling a ball in training during the nine-day jaunt to Orlando, Wieghorst told, in a heartwarming interview, of his conviction that he will once again appear before 60,000 supporters at Parkhead.

Reflecting on a valuable spell of rehabilitation in the Sunshine State, the Dane declared: 'Looking back even a week I've definitely progressed in the sense that I'm able to do different exercises from the ones we started out with.

'I've been fairly optimistic all along but there's now no doubt in my mind that I'm going to get back to where I was before.

'It's been very good being with the lads. It was perfect timing after being home for a while and having got used to a normal routine. Then along comes this trip with great weather which really does lift your spirits. Being together with the squad has really helped me a lot.

'But I need to be patient because I do have a few months of rehabilitation ahead of me. But I'm getting better all the time.'

Barely able to talk or walk in the aftermath of treatment in Glasgow's Southern General Hosptal, Wieghorst remains restricted in his mobility. Yet he is adamant that he is now significantly more certain of his future than in the weeks and months after fate dealt a cruel hand.

He added: 'The physio, Brian Scott, keeps telling me that I'm making great progress. I'm still months away but every day that passes I'm getting closer to when I can train with the lads - that's what keeps me going.

'It's difficult because the doctors and physios can't say to me after so many weeks or months: "You will be able to do this". Everyone's different and they've got no experience with professional athletes.

'I'm feeling good and I just have to look back six weeks to how I was feeling in hospital and compare it to how I'm feeling now. It's like night and day.

'I felt well enough to travel and the last week or so has erased some of the memories of the days in hospital. That's no reflection on the staff who have really helped me along. It's just not the place to be and I've really enjoyed it here.'