Nir Bitton has issued a grim warning on the virus after coming to the end of his self-isolation.
The 28-year-old tested positive the day after playing for Israel against Scotland after spending time in a wheelchair following an ankle injury suffered during Celtic’s Europa League win against Sarajevo.
At his age most folk would expect Bitton to relax through self-isolation enjoying a mixture of gaming and exercising to come through relaxed and ready to step straight back into action.
The Celt however had a very different experience, at one stage he was struggling to stand up as he discovered that it was no routine virus that he had contacted.
Still suffering from a lack of taste or smell, Bitton told The Sun:
I went through some hard days with this virus. It wasn’t easy at all. Before I got the disease I underestimated it, but it was not pleasant.
I had headaches, my muscles ached and I could not stand up. I had to sit. You do not know what you are heading towards.
Everyone knows how the disease starts, but not how it ends. If it affected me, a young and athletic guy, I do not know how it affects older people.
We see deaths and I need to say to people, watch out. Stay at home and look after your relatives. This is not an easy disease. I am still without taste and smell, but I hope it will come back soon and that the hardships are behind me.
By the sounds of it there is no chance of Bitton being involved against AC Milan tomorrow night with Neil Lennon giving a squad update at his media conference later today.