Nordic adventure a plus for Henderson

The 19-year-old (pictured) spent three months with Rosenborg after boss Ronny Deila decided he would benefit from a spell in his homeland.

The Scotland Under-19 midfielder helped the former Champions League quarter-finalists regain top-spot in the Tippeligaen as he netted four goals in 13 appearances.

But his Scandinavian sojourn cost him the chance to play a part in the Hoops title run-in and left him one match short of being eligible for a winner's medal.

While his Celtic team-mates were lapping up four-in-a-row with a 5-0 romp against Inverness on the final day of the season, Henderson was preparing to be an unused sub as Rosenborg edged out title rivals Stabaek 3-2. Henderson, though, insists his time in Trondheim will do him the world of good as he strives to cut himself a permanent place in Deila's line-up.

The teenager said: "I don't feel like I missed out while I was away. I came on during the League Cup final and managed to get a winner's medal there. I was involved last year when we won the league. I was away for three months with Rosenborg but I'm thinking about the long-term. I want to be here for a long time and hopefully I can win plenty of trophies in the future. That's been my main aim since I was a little boy."

Henderson's Rosenborg move left the fresh-faced youngster to fend for himself for the first time. But he believes he has returned to Celtic for pre-season training all grown up.

Henderson - speaking ahead of tomorrow's final warm-up clash with Real Sociedad before next week's Champions League qualifier against Iceland's Stjarnan - said: "I enjoyed being out in Norway but it's really good being back. I definitely feel I've come back a better player - and a better person too. I feel like I learned a lot in a short space of time. I'm more mature now. I'm sure that will help me in the future."