BITTON’S BACK IN BUSINESS AT LAST

CELTIC Israeli star thought he would never play again but feels better than ever on return

NIR Bitton beams as he bounces across the foyer of his team hotel.

“It’s good to see you guys,” says the Israeli to the small but perfectly formed band of Scottish newspaper men. It looks like he almost means it as he sakes us all warmly by the hand. Bitton is back. At long last. After 11 months of tears, fears and a realisation of what is really important in his life following a knee injury he believed was minor but in fact it had him thinking that he’d kicked a ball for the last time.

Even press duties, which never were his favourite way to spend half an hour, are now a treat.

Celtic supporters may have forgotten how good a player the midfielder is when fit, which h e hasn’t been since long before he decided to get to the bottom of his problem.

His return is a welcome boost. Bitton has been through a lot over the past year but he has been training again and while the sharpness isn’t there, he will be, as Brendan Rodgers said, like a new signing when he does get back to full fitness.

“I feel I’ve just started my career now,” Bitton says, unable to keep the smile from his face. “It’s been a long time, 11 months, and when you are out for that time you realise that you have to appreciate every minute you spend on the pitch.

“I remember I had a meeting with a specialist guy in London and I went there not even thinking about the possibility of a serious injury

‘‘ Git anda simin rempos similit, quati optibusdae dolo

or surgery. I thought I was just going for his opinion on how to get rid of the swelling and stuff.

“And then he looked at my scan and said, ‘you need to be out for nine to 12 months.’

“I started to cry. I phoned my wife straight away and said to her, ‘I think you need to look for a job, I’m finished. I cried and I couldn’t control it.

“For me this is the thing I like to do most.

“People on the outside