SPL clubs on tour

By Thomas McGuigan

Scottish Premier League clubs are gearing up for pre-season tours after giving their players time off to relax in sunnier climes.

BBC Sport looks at where and when players from their respective clubs will be topping up their fitness levels after topping up their tans.

ABERDEEN

Aberdeen return to pre-season training on 30 June. They host Champions League winners Manchester United at Pittodrie (12 July) for a testimonial for the 25th anniversary of the Dons' Cup Winners Cup triumph.

The Dons then travel to Dundee (15 July), Peterhead (18 July) and Brechin City (21 July).

Jimmy Calderwood's squad pack their bags for the Netherlands to take on DZC (24 July), FC Zwolle (27 July), Vitesse Arnhem (30 July) and Go Ahead Eagles (2 August).

The Dons return to Scotland to face Inverurie Loco Works in Craig Ross's testimonial on 5 August.

CELTIC

Celtic travel south to face Southampton at St Mary's (18 July) before taking part in the Algarve Cup.

Gordon Strachan's side play English Premier League outfit Middlesbrough (22 July) and last season's FA Cup finalists, Cardiff City, two days later.

Local side Vitoria Guimaraes are also taking part in the tournament.

The SPL champions will then play Porto (26 July) before facing Tottenham Hotspur (1 Aug) and Feyenoord (3 Aug) in the Dutch club's Jubilee Tournament.

Celtic return home for a warm-up fixture with Manchester City on 6 August.

DUNDEE UNITED

Dundee United return to pre-season training on Friday 4 July.

The squad travel to Ireland to face Dublin University College (14 July) and Tolka Rovers two days later.

Craig Levein's side then take on Raith Rovers on 19 July and travel to East End Park to play Dunfermline Athletic (22 July).

United entertain La Liga giants Barcelona at Tannadice for the second year running (26 July).

Levein then takes his troops to England (2 August) to take on Plymouth Argyle to complete their pre-season preparations.

FALKIRK

Falkirk's squad return for pre-season training on 3 July and will entertain Championship outfit Queen's Park Rangers (26 July).

John Hughes will then take his Falkirk side on a pre-season tour of the Netherlands.

The Bairns take on SC Cambuur (30 July) and BV Veendam (1 August).

They finish their Dutch tour with a friendly against Eredivisie side Heerenveen (2 August).

HAMILTON ACADEMICAL

Hamilton's squad return for pre-season training on 30 June.

The SPL newcomcers face a busy July with friendlies scheduled against Airdrie United (16 July), Berwick Rangers (17 July), Albion Rovers (22 July), Dumbarton (23 July) and East Fife (24 July) - all away from home.

Accies will field two sides against Billingham Synthonia and Huddersfield on 26 July.

Hamilton will take part in Hartlepool United's pre-season Centenary Tournament at the Victoria Ground - taking on either the home side or Sunderland (27 July)

Accies then take on Newcastle Blue Star (28 July) and Linlithgow Rose (5 August).

HEARTS

The Hearts squad return to pre-season training on 25 June.

The Tynecastle side travel to Northern Ireland to take on Glentoran (14 July) before meeting Dunfermline (16 July) at East End Park.

Hearts head to Germany for a 10-day tour to play three friendlies, the first of which is against a regional select, Rheingau Auswahl (23 July).

The Edinburgh club take on Bundesliga outfit Kaiserslautern (25 July) and end their tour with a friendly against SV Wehen Wiesbaden (29 July).

Back in Scotland, Hearts will face English Premier League newcomers Hull City at Tynecastle (3 August).

HIBERNIAN

Hibernian return for pre-season training on 23 June.

The Easter Road side have entered the Intertoto Cup and will play second round ties on the 6 July and 12 July, with Swedish club Elfsborg the likely opponents.

They take on Raith Rovers at Stark's Park (15 July) and face the mouth-watering prospect of entertaining Barcelona at Murrayfield (24 July).

Mixu Paatelainen then takes his troops to Broadwood to face Clyde (30 July).

Hibs will host English Premier League clubs Middlesbrough (2 August) and Wigan Athletic (5 August).

INVERNESS CT

Craig Brewster welcomes his players back for pre-season training on 2 July.

Inverness will take on neighbours Ross County at home (15 July) and St Johnstone four days later.

Caley Thistle head for Denmark where they will meet Lollandfalster (22 July) and Herfolge (26 July), before a trip to Turf Moor for a clash with Burnley (2 Aug).

Once the season is underway, Liverpool will bring a side to the Caledonian Stadium for Barry Wilson's testimonial (18 Aug).

KILMARNOCK

Kilmarnock return to pre-season training on 7 July.

Jim Jefferies's side will warm-up against Airdrie United at the Excelsior Stadium (19 July) and trips to Alloa Athletic (21 July) and Stenhousemuir (23 July) before hosting Championship outfit Wolves (26 July).

Queen's Park Rangers are due to visit Rugby Park (29 July), while Killie also welcome Coventry City to Ayrshire (2 August).

MOTHERWELL

Uefa Cup qualifiers Motherwell will host Wolves at Fir Park (23 July).

Manager Mark McGhee then will take his squad to Obertraun, Austria, for a training camp from Sun 13 July - Sun 20 July.

'Well return to Scotland to host Bradford City (26 July).

They then entertain Preston North End (30 July) but La Liga side Villarreal's visit to Fir Park for a Phil O'Donnell tribute match has been cancelled.

RANGERS

Rangers return for pre-season training on 26 June and will play three games in Germany on their pre-season tour.

Walter Smith's side face SC Preussen Munster (13 July), Sportfreunde Lotte (16 July) and FC Schalke 04 (19 July).

The squad will be based in the Dutch/German border town of De Lutte for training between matches.

Rangers complete their pre-season preparations with a friendly against English Premier League outfit Liverpool at Ibrox on 2 August.

ST MIRREN

Gus MacPherson's Buddies side face a trip to Dumbarton (22 July) and play Stirling Albion a day later.

The Saints then play old rivals Morton in the Renfrewshire Cup at Cappielow (26 July) before taking on Blackpool three days later.

St Mirren complete their pre-season preparations with a trip to Darlington (2 August).