No Trap door yet for in-form Flood

WILLO FLOOD left Celtic’s Scott Brown, Shunsuke Nakamura and Barry Robson in the shade at Parkhead on Saturday — but he’s still sceptical about a Republic of Ireland call-up from manager Giovanni Trapattoni.

The Dubliner was pulling splinters out of his backside at Dundee United before manager Craig Levein rode to his rescue.

And having proved himself now against the SPL’s top defences, the magical midfielder is ready to make his move to Dundee United permanent.

The 23-year-old former Irish Examiner National Junior sport star, on loan from Cardiff, claims he is no rush but the fact his agent Eamonn Collins is due at Tannadice this week suggests he could become a fully-fledged United player before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.

However he isn’t kidding himself that he’s ready for a Republic of Ireland call-up just yet.

He said: “It would be a dream come true to play for my country one day and fingers crossed it might happen. But I don’t think Trapattoni knows my name or even knows about Dundee United FC.

“If I am being honest, I don’t think he has ever been to a game I’ve played in or knows I exist. You see a few boys down south getting call-ups and it doesn’t seem to be a problem if you’re playing in England but the SPL is better than people from outside Scotland think.

“Ross McCormack has been outstanding at Cardiff — he’s been one of the best players in the Championship.”

If Trapattoni had been at Parkhead on Saturday he would have hunted Flood down at full-time to bring him on board. The Dubliner was fantastic as United came back from 2-0 to earn a point against Gordon Strachan’s side.

Flood is settled in Dundee but the main reason for staying is the relationship he has formed with Levein and the loyalty he wants to show the gaffer.

The former Manchester City kid was rotting away in the reserves and on the bench for the Welsh side before Levein pounced for him in the summer of 2007.

Flood, who has worked hard on his game since his move north, said: “You are better playing football every week than picking splinters out of your arse. I did that for a year at Cardiff and it was the worst 12 months of my life.

“I thought I was going there to play but it didn’t happen. Craig brought me here and has had the benefit of seeing me playing week in, week out. I haven’t actually sat down with the club but my agent is over this week.

“I would be available on a free transfer at the end of the season so the ball is in my court and United’s court. If they want to make an offer, then great.

“I am not actually thinking about signing for anybody at the moment as I just want to concentrate on doing well for Dundee United. If I leave things until the end of the season then so be it but the same goes if they are tied up before then.

“I will see what happens but staying here permanently would definitely appeal to me. My wife and baby are settled so I don’t see why not.

“I owe the club although I have given them a lot back. Every time I go out on the pitch I give 110%. I have a lot of respect for the gaffer and he has a lot of respect for me. Once you play somewhere you are happy, money doesn’t really come into it, especially if your family is happy too.”

Flood admits a long-term ambition to play for one of the Old Firm.

He comes from a family of staunch Hoops fans and brother Shane was at Parkhead to watch Willo dazzle against the champions in the 2-2 draw at the weekend.

Flood said: “It would be a dream to play for one of the big boys but it is a long way away at the moment. Over the last year and a half, Craig has made me a better player and staying here another year or so would help me realise my full potential.”

Levein’s men also held Celtic 1-1 at Tannadice and drew 3-3 at Ibrox, so maybe Flood’s team-mate Craig Conway wasn’t so far wrong when he claimed United could split the Old Firm this term. Flood admits United would have been closer to the two Glasgow giants at the top of the SPL if they hadn’t started the campaign so badly.

He said: “We have take points off the Old Firm but haven’t beaten them and that frustrates us because we know we are good enough to do that.

“We are so close and yet so far in some ways but I think we will get at least one win against the Old Firm before the end of the season.

“We’re only thinking about third place at the moment. We are not really thinking about splitting them because we had such a bad start. We were bottom for a while and we left ourselves too much of a gap and need to just keep playing well and consolidate third place.

“A club like Dundee United deserves to be playing in Europe.”