Tom on Celtic challenge

Tom Carroll believes Saturday’s clash with Celtic in Finland will be a further test of our resolve ahead of the start of the new season.

We returned home from our Tour of the USA and Canada unbeaten in three matches against MLS opposition as the squad took to the field under Mauricio Pochettino for the first time.

It’s next stop Helsinki, where we’ll face the Scottish champions at the famous Olympic Stadium on Saturday afternoon before hosting German side Schalke at White Hart Lane the following weekend in our final warm-up before the big kick-off at West Ham on August 16.

Central midfielder Tom, who played the full match as we drew 3-3 at Seattle Sounders in our Tour opener before going on for the second 45 in the 3-2 win at Toronto, expects Celtic to pose a different kind of threat to those we’ve faced previously as our preparations for the new term continue.

“Minutes are vital for all the lads,” said the 22-year-old, who was on loan at Queens Park Rangers last season. “I thought the Tour to America and Canada was good – obviously I played the first game in Seattle and was fairly happy with how things went and then I was involved in the second half in Toronto.

“We now go on to the game in Helsinki. Celtic are a good side so it will be a good challenge for the lads and I’m sure it will be a different test to what we came up against in the States.”