Finished off sorting the instrument cluster, both leds which light up the front of the cluster were off, which would be why i couldn't see the speedo needle. I would have sworn they were working before i put it back together last night, but that would have been unlikely cos one of them was the wrong way round. I'm putting it down to me tripping from the fumes coming out of the workshop heater.
I'm well chuffed with this replacement cluster, the ability to see what speed you doing, day & night makes life considerably easier.