The ex-Rangers defender will line up for Norwich against Neil Lennon's side as the Hoops continue their preparations for the new season with a friendly against the Barclays Premier League side.

Whittaker headed south after leaving Ibrox in the summer and, after spending time at the Carrow Road club's training camp in Austria, he is expecting a red-hot reception back in Glasgow.

He said: "It's been great training in Austria. It was a different environment, but it gave me a chance to meet the boys.

"I'll probably get a bit of abuse [going back to Celtic] but I'm used to that anyway. It'll be good to get back up to Scotland and play there again. I'm going to be down in England now for a few years so its nice to go back so quickly."

Speaking about life away from the crisis-hit Glasgow club, he said: "I'm looking forward to getting in the team, first and foremost.

"Full-back is where I have been playing and I like to get forward and take part in the game and swing some crosses into the box and create some goals.

"I'll just be looking to slot in there and the team can continue the form they have shown over the past few seasons."

The Canaries match will be Celtic's first Parkhead outing of the season as they ready themselves for the new campaign.

It will see goalkeeper Fraser Forster go head-to-head with his former club and he is sure the meeting with Chris Hughton's side will be the perfect challenge for the Hoops ahead of season starting.

He said: "It will be a good game for us to play in and it will be a good test.

"We want to hit the ground running at Celtic Park, but Norwich had a fantastic season last year and they will want to recreate that.

"It will be important we turn up and play because it will be a tough game. We saw that in the testimonial. Even though it was only a friendly, they've got very good players.

"I think there will be a bit of pressure on us playing at home too, so we will have to go out and play well."