Hartley says Flood can handle Old Firm pressure

PAUL HARTLEY has backed new signing Willo Flood to handle his first Old Firm derby, should the Irishman be given his Celtic debut tomorrow.

Flood, who arrived from Dundee United in the January transfer window, was cup-tied for last week’s Scottish Cup win over Queen’s Park at Parkhead.

The lifelong Celtic fan however, is in Gordon Strachan’s squad for this weekend’s crucial Premier League clash with Rangers.

Hartley is confident his fellow midfielder can step undaunted into the biggest fixture in the Scottish football calendar.

He said: “I think Willo has the right type of character for the Glasgow derby. I’ve played against him a lot and I’ve seen him up close in training.

“He can play in this side. He’s a terrific footballer and he’s got a bit of dig about him.

“Willo grew up as a Celtic fan and knows what it’s about. He knows what it takes in these games.”

With midfielder Shaun Maloney a doubt with a recurrence of a hamstring injury and skipper Stephen McManus back from a knee injury, there is some uncertainty surrounding the likely Celtic line-up.

Hartley shrugged off a knock to return to training yesterday and was joined by Scott McDonald and Shunsuke Nakamura, who both returned from a gruelling midweek trip to Japan for a World Cup qualifier.

While Nakamura played the entire game for Japan, McDonald sat frustrated on the Australia bench for the 90 minutes.

Hartley, however, is confident both players will be ready for what is sure to be another exacting Old Firm clash.

Hartley said: “Scott will be fine. He knows what these games are all about, as you saw the last time when he scored the winner at Ibrox.

“Like Scott, Naka will be ready.

“A lot of players having been away on international duty this week, so today was the first day back in training. I’m available for selection. I don’t think I was ever in danger of missing the game.

“Players being away on international duty is part and parcel of the game. You can’t help that.

“The boys are back now and the session was excellent. We’re all fit and raring to go.”

Manager Gordon Strachan says he is dreading a defeat at Parkhead.

“It’s a huge game,” he said.

“You look forward to it; but you dread, you just dread, getting beaten.

“In saying that I think it’s been proven in the last couple of games that it doesn’t determine where trophies go. The two teams are making mistakes elsewhere.

“But we will not think about that on Sunday; we will just think about winning the game and seeing where that takes us.”

Meanwhile, John Fleck could be set to make his Old Firm debut after Rangers manager Walter Smith claimed the youngster was ready for his first taste of the famous fixture.

The highly-rated 17-year-old featured in five games in January, earning man-of-the-match awards and netting his first senior goal in the win over Dundee United last time out.

“In his own mind, he is ready to play,” said the Ibrox boss.

“He has an all-round ability to play the game. He has good touch and control, good vision, he’s quick and he has a bit of physical strength even though he is not the tallest.

“He has a had a good start in his first few games but that has to continue.”

A second victory of the season at Celtic Park would allow Rangers to leapfrog the defending champions into top spot in the Premier League.