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Scottish Premier League Update

Ali Hannah on the latest from the Scottish Premier League, January 2009

Celtic | Rangers | Scotland

Celtic Roundup

In an underwhelming transfer window in the SPL, Willo Flood became the only new arrival at Celtic Park after Gordon Strachan was frustrated in his attempts to bolster his squad with a few other new names.

Flood has been on-loan from Cardiff at Dundee United where he caught the eye of Celtic and the Dublin-born player is desperate to make an impact at Parkhead.

The midfielder will wear the number 16 shirt - filling the void left by Roy Keane.

Keane wore the shirt at Parkhead and, more famously, had it throughout his career as one of the world's best midfielders at Manchester United. Flood idolized his compatriot and savoured the occasion when he faced his hero in the heat of an engine-room battle at Old Trafford just over four years ago while at Manchester City.

Afterwards, Keane handed his shirt to Flood but the new Celt revealed he didn't have it for long.

He said: "Keane is my all-time hero. He's probably the best player we've ever had in our country and probably the best we'll ever have.

"The best leader, the best captain and he is an absolute hero everywhere in the world.

"I played against him in the Manchester derby and we drew 0-0. It was my second game at Old Trafford so I can say I played on the same pitch as a legend.

"I asked for his jersey and he said he would give it to me in the tunnel. He got the kit man of Manchester United to give it to me. It just went to show the mark of the man.

"I ended up giving it to my mate but I don't know why. We have regrets in life and that was my biggest! His ma' put it in the wash the next day and forgot about it.

"I didn't ask Celtic for No.16, I was just given it by chance. The kit man said that was it.

"I knew Keane had the number at United but not here. But just having the Celtic strip on is an absolute dream. It could be No.99 for all I care."

Flood is anxious to get started but admits there was a moment of panic after last week's Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final. After missing the vital spot kick for Dundee United, the 23-year-old voiced his frustration as his proposed move to Parkhead dragged on.

Flood accused Celtic of leaving him in limbo but said afterwards: "It was heat of the moment. I was upset but blew things out of context and regret what I said.

"My agent was on the phone saying, ‘What have you done?' "I thought at the time I should not have said it but tempers were flying and I just spoke. My move was so close yet so far away. It was a dream and I was wondering if it was going to happen or not."

Now it has, and Flood hopes to make an instant impact.

A year ago, Barry Robson made the same move from Tannadice and became pivotal as Celtic sealed their third successive title.

Flood wants to be as effective, but said: "I knew Barry was good enough to go to Celtic and play because I saw him in training. He got the recognition at Celtic but I'm coming at a different time to him. He arrived when Celtic were a few points behind and nobody thought Rangers could be caught. Celtic are at the top on merit just now and the boys are playing top-notch football.

"It's going to be hard to get in. Celtic have about 25 quality players and Shunsuke Nakamura is an absolute legend back home in Ireland. They think he is God. If I am half as much of a success, I'll be happy. I just need to get my chance and take it. If I get in, I can give the team a lift.

"You need to prove yourself again and I have always wanted to prove people wrong. No one will work harder than me. If it's in the gym or staying to do shooting or crossing, I'll do it. If things don't go well, I want to be able to say I gave it my best shot."

Flood admits it was hard to leave Tannadice and thanked boss Craig Levein for saving his career after quitting Cardiff and putting him back on track to the big time.

He said: "I've supported Celtic all my life. When they come knocking, you can only say yes, and when do I sign? Things worked out really well at Dundee United and I was thinking about staying. But with this chance to play for the club I supported as a boy, there was only one answer.

"Craig Levein has been unbelievable to me. He got me here and got me my confidence back. He did everything for me and I owe everything to him. So far in my career, he has been the biggest influence. I have a lot to thank him for."

Strachan has signed Flood for his "drive, enthusiasm and ability" and his first chance to show it could come in the game against Rangers at Parkhead later this month.

He is cup-tied for Saturday's Scottish Cup game with Queen's Park and knows that puts him in line for a memorable debut.

He said: "I would be an honour to go out on to Parkhead wearing the Celtic shirt. It wouldn't matter who it was against.

"I've never been to an Old Firm game. I've only seen them on TV and I've been to pubs in Dublin when they have been on and the place has been mental.

"My mum and dad will come to my first game and the missus will bring my little baby Aaron, who is 18 months old.

"My dad has no interest in football. He used to come and see me play when I was six or seven but he hasn't got a clue.

"He still watches me but he thinks I am a centre forward or something!"

Had things gone Celtic's way, Flood would have been joined by striker Steven Fletcher, but Hibs have rebuffed Celtic's moves for their player.

The Hoops offered £2.5m plus a fringe player but Hibs refused, much to the irritation of the player himself. It is expected that Celtic will return for the striker in the summer, but that has been little comfort to the player.

Agent Scott Fisher outlined the depth of his feelings, saying: "Steven is extremely disappointed and feels let down by Hibs. Hibs were unwilling to give Celtic a concrete figure and so we were unable to conclude a deal. He feels he is not getting the opportunity to further his career."

Rangers

Kyle Lafferty believes the championship momentum is now with Rangers after reducing Celtic's lead from seven points to two and retaining their biggest assets at the end of the transfer window.

The 21-year-old is hoping to stake his claim for a start in the looming Old Firm derby by impressing Walter Smith in training and he is desperate to be involved as Rangers try to prevent Celtic from claiming their fourth successive title.

"A couple of weeks ago, when we lost to Celtic at Ibrox, some people said we were finished, that we had lost the league already," said Lafferty. "Now, we are only two points behind and I think the momentum is with us at the moment.

"It is a boost that we have kept our squad together and not lost any of our big names.

"I think the fans would have found that hard to accept, especially now we are back in the title race. It is the first time I have experienced this kind of pressure, when you are supposed to be in a crisis after two bad results, but I think we are going into the Old Firm game with more confidence because we took important points against Aberdeen and Dundee United, two really hard games."

Lafferty has been frustrated with the injuries and positional changes that have hampered his progress since his £3.4m transfer from Burnley in the summer. Yet, after recovering from hamstring, knee and ankle problems, he is confident he can play a major role in a rejuvenated title challenge as a striker and revealed he had been given a vote of confidence from the club's greatest-ever goal scorer after replacing Kris Boyd on Saturday.

"I was delighted when I scored against Dundee United," he said. "I got a real buzz when I was told I was going on and playing up front. I think everyone who was there could see I was happier and more comfortable in that position. Even Ally McCoist said he could see the difference in me, so that was good for my confidence.

"It feels more natural to me. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to play wherever the manager wants me, but I play up front for Northern Ireland and have a scoring rate of one in three, which I think is quite good at international level.

"I think if I get a run up front you will see a completely different person. The season so far has been injury after injury. It has been frustrating because I haven't been able to get a run of games. There has been all this talk and slagging-off that I am not worth the money but that is hardly my fault. I don't put that money on my head. If I get a run in my natural position and I am still not able to show what I can do, then I will accept that criticism. I would just like a fair crack: I want to prove to everyone that I am worth my place here."

Smith managed to avoid having to sell one of his leading stars as no last-minute offers were tabled for his players.

After agreeing to offload Alan Gow to Norwich on loan, he also moved Charlie Adam to Blackpool for the remainder of the season.

Smith will also be without Nacho Novo for the Old Firm match at Celtic Park on 15 February after he injured his ankle.

The 29-year-old Spanish striker hobbled off during Rangers' 2-0 win and requires a scan once the swelling subsides to assess the damage.

Rangers boss Walter Smith said: "The first indications were that there was nothing broken. But I would expect it to be three weeks before he is back playing again."

Meanwhile, 17-year-old John Fleck has burst onto the Ibrox scene this month after coming through the ranks at Rangers.

The nephew of former Ibrox favourite, Robert Fleck, has emerged as the most exciting young talent to emerge from the club's youth system.

It was Fleck who, on his third first team appearance won and converted the penalty kick that set Rangers on the road to a home victory over an obdurate Dundee United side, a result that slashed the gap at the top of the table.

The youngster's energy, spirit and skill have already attracted attention from outside Scotland and prompted ready praise from the Rangers defender, Steven Whittaker - including a comparison with Wayne Rooney.

"It's definitely scary to see how good he is," said Whittaker.

"He's got talent in abundance, he works hard, he's shown he's more than capable of playing on this stage and he has a great future ahead of him. The way he took the penalty shows you the confidence he's got.

"Kevin Thomson told me he was extra special and you can tell in training that he's got that talent and that he sees so many pictures in his head. His touch and his contributions are very good.

"He's actually quite quiet, a down to earth guy, just one of the boys. He's only 17 but there's no reason why he can't get himself into the Scotland squad if he keeps on performing like that.

"You see it in England with the likes of Rooney that they're in the first team even when they're still young lads because they're capable and he's no different. It doesn't surprise me one bit that there are Premiership clubs looking at him. It's going to be interesting to see how it develops."

Scotland

Scotland manager George Burley is furious with the Scottish Premier League after bosses insisted that their 2009/10 season will start four days before Scotland's crucial World Cup qualifier in Group 9 against Norway in Oslo - even though the Norwegians have scheduled no league fixtures on that weekend in order to increase their chances of reaching the 2010 finals in South Africa.

Last month the SPL declared that their season would begin on the weekend of August 8/9, although Scotland must play Norway on August 12 in a game crucial to both sides' hopes.

Burley pled with the SPL chairman, Lex Gold, to keep the previous weekend clear, but to no avail. Now it has emerged that no games have been scheduled in the Tippeligaen - Norway's top division - for 10 days before the qualifier.

The qualifier was originally scheduled by Fifa for August 19, but was brought forward by a week because UEFA complained that it would clash with Champions League and Europa League qualifying matches.

FIFA's rules state that if a World Cup qualifying game is played on a date not originally cleared for use for the tournament, national managers cannot insist on the normal five clear days of preparation with their squad.

Burley said: "I was angry that they never considered moving the league forward. I still can't see a reason why they couldn't have done it."

Clubs look at it the wrong way - they've got all their own reasons but the national team has got to come first in this instance. You want fair preparation.

"The players will ask if that gives us a fair opportunity. We don't want to make excuses like ‘we had six call-offs on the Saturday' or the players were not quite right after the first game of season on the Saturday."

Burley could lose even more time with some of his first-choice players if there is a live television game on August 9 - 72 hours before the Norway game. "That," Burley said, "is the worst case scenario."

"It's got to be sorted out. Its something Scotland needs. The World Cup only comes once every four years, so give us a helping hand here to try and prepare the players properly.

"We can't expect them to play the first game of a new season on the Saturday - or even the Sunday - and then play a World Cup game on a Wednesday. Remember, the Norwegian league will be halfway through its season, so their domestic players will be match fit and sharp.

"Our preference was to start next season earlier. Considering that the 2009-10 season finishes two weeks earlier than usual because of the World Cup finals, I thought that made sense but now we have got to rethink and for me three days is not long enough preparation.

"I am saying to the SPL - let's look at this seriously. The first game of the season is always 100 miles an hour because the players are really keyed up for that game and it takes a lot out of them. Of course, clubs have pre-season games, which maybe came into consideration - but I am talking about a World Cup qualifying game and this is not the right preparation."

Scotland, meanwhile. will fast-track Rangers' teenage sensation John Fleck into the Under-21 side for the European Championship qualifying ties this spring - if they feel it is best for the nation and the teenager.

The Ibrox starlet wasn't involved with the Under-21 training squad that gathered at Dunblane at the beginning of February and also won't travel to France with the Under-19s for a February 25 friendly, which is not an official international date. But if Fleck continues his meteoric rise with Rangers, Scots youth teams coach Billy Stark won't hesitate to play him in competitive games - at whichever level he sees fit.

The Hampden coaching hierarchy have been well aware of the Murray Park graduate's talent for at least three years, with Fleck skippering the Under-17s in last season's European Championships.

He is eligible at Under-19 level for another two years but could be promoted to the Under-21s when they start the European qualifiers with home-and-away games against Albania.

Scotland also have an elite group qualifying challenge at Under-19 level at the end of the season - when Fleck could well feature against England.

It is understood there have already been lengthy discussions between Rangers and Scotland about the best way to nurture the youngster. And Scotland boss Burley admitted the player has the potential to star in his squad one day.

Burley said: "There's no doubt John will be in the full squad at some stage, but the important thing is his development. I always say that if they are good enough, they are old enough, but it is something you have to assess all the time."

Hearts, meanwhile, have asked for Gary Glen not to feature in the Under-19 friendly in France because of their shortage of striking options and Fleck has been omitted, too.

Stark was in Denmark last week for the Under-21 Euro qualifying draw, with Scotland pitched in against Azerbaijan, Austria, Belarus and Albania.

The eight-game section stars at the end of March with a trip to Albania and Fleck will be considered for that match. The Under- 19 s head to England in May for the elite group challenge, with one team to qualify from a four-nation section. As well as the Auld Enemy, they will face Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Rangers and Scotland skipper Barry Ferguson was involved in age-group squads early in his Ibrox career and is impressed with teenager Fleck. "John can be a massive player for us," said Ferguson. "I was surprised he didn't become more involved at the start of the season. But, clearly, the gaffer has done the right thing. We need to let him progress but he looks like a great talent."

Ali Hannah

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