Under Starter's Orders

Development Squad preparations are going well ahead of the new season, as coach Tommy McIntyre explains

- Mark Henderson

TOMMY McIntyre believes participating in the Whitby Town Challenge Cup will provide the perfect springboard into the new season for Celtic’s Development Side.

Starting tomorrow (Thursday), the Bhoys will go head-to-head with their counterparts from English Premier League side Newcastle United, and then on Saturday they will either face Whitby Town’s senior side or AZ Alkmaar.

And with the start of the competitive campaign drawing ever closer, the Professional Academy Manager told the View that the tournament would be a timely test for his young charges.

“We have a good link with Whitby Town and it was ideal from our point of view at the stage we are at in pre-season,” he said. “It’s taking us out of our normal training programme, we are getting away for two or three days and we are having with two games against top-quality opposition.