Alan Thompson pulls back Celtic curtain on USA trips as he talks Strachan fallout, O’Neill miss and Sutton pride

Alan Thompson went Stateside with Celtic so often he could have been forgiven for starting every season at the Hoops with a southern drawl. But when it came to putting the accent on a flying start to the season back in Scotland the former Parkhead midfielder reckons there was nothing better.

The Hoops will head back across the pond this summer as Brendan Rodgers prepares his players for the new campaign with glamour friendlies against Manchester City and Chelsea. Twenty years ago Thompson was part of Martin O’Neill’s side who, fresh from winning the league and cup double, took on the cream of the Premier League in three glamour friendlies across just five days in Seattle, Connecticut and Philadelphia.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United were the opponents in the blazing north American heat. O’Neill missed the opening two matches as he stayed in the UK to be with his wife who was ill.

Nine goals were shipped to a Blues side inspired by Frank Lampard and a Pool team driven on by Steven Gerrard before Chris Sutton and Craig Beattie restored some pride with the goals in a 2-1 win over United. But Thompson insists the run-outs had Celtic in tip top condition to start the SPL campaign on flames. They did just that winning every one of their opening five league games.

And Thompson said: “We went that many bloody times to America it’s hard to remember which trip was which! I think I was there four times in total. But it’s a great break. Definitely not a jolly but a great chance to prepare. The weather is great. The training facilities are great and you get looked after.

“If you have new team mates then it’s a chance for them to get to know the lads better rather than being in Scotland and just going home after training.