By Ian Roache

CELTIC CAN’T afford to think the championship is in the bag, despite moving seven points clear at the top of the SPL.

The reason, according to Dundee United midfielder Willo Flood, is too many clubs are capable of hampering the Hoops as they bid to make it four titles in a row.

The wee Irishman will join his Tannadice teammates at Parkhead this afternoon and they will be just as buoyant as the Bhoys going into the game.

Celtic may have seen off Rangers last weekend at Ibrox but United have lost only once in 17 fixtures and they tackle this afternoon’s clash in the knowledge they deserved at least a point when the teams met earlier this season.

Flood reckons that 1-1 draw in August and United’s haul against Rangers can be added to the achievements of Hearts, Aberdeen, Hibs, St Mirren and others against the Old Firm to provide proof that it is not just jousts between the Glasgow pair that will decide the destination of the championship.

“Rangers and Celtic both know that when they play us they probably have to be at their best to beat us and it is the same against most of the teams these days,” said Flood.

“The likes of Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs have all either beaten them or ran them close recently so it shows the gap is not that big on any given day.

“I would say we go into this game with a bit more confidence this season. I think we are a better side than we were because we have added some quality players and the lads have gelled really well.

“The squad is the biggest it has been for a lot of years and everyone is capable of coming into the team to do a job so the gaffer has plenty of options and the boys are always on their toes.

“We know that we are going there for a hard game because now that Celtic have that gap they will want to hold on to it.

“But we are not going just to make up the numbers.

“We are good enough to take points off anyone and that is what we are aiming to do.

“We are unbeaten against the Old Firm so far this season—that is something we are proud of and a record we would love to hold on to.”

The on-loan Cardiff City player also remembers hearing Ibrox boss Walter Smith speak at a Setanta awards night last season when his team were a similar amount of points ahead, so the Hoops will know all too well how quickly a lead can be overturned.

“I think Rangers were eight or nine clear at that time and people were saying to him that the league was over,” recalled Flood.

“That wasn’t the way it worked out in the end, of course, as Celtic came back at them and because of that experience there is no way they will take their foot off the gas now.”

A United win—or even a draw—would allow Flood to make his brother Shane choke on his hamburgers this afternoon.

He will welcome his Celtic-supporting sibling over to Scotland to watch the match, but is hoping he doesn’t get the result he wants.

The 23-year-old joked that his brother is likely to be a regular at the refreshments kiosk during the game but will be delighted to leave him with indigestion.

“My brother Shane and his mate are coming over from Ireland for the game and from what I have seen of him at matches in the past he will be eating about 20 burgers at Parkhead,” joked Flood.

“I won’t be the most popular person in the family if we win but it was the same last season when we took points off Celtic.

“It is not something I am too concerned about and hopefully my brother will be feeling a bit sick by the end of the game because we have won.”

Meanwhile, former United captain Barry Robson claimed a draw against his old club would constitute a crisis at Parkhead.

“I would rather be seven points ahead than behind, obviously,” he said.

“But the thing is, if we have one draw and Rangers win a game then it is back to five and it is a crisis here and all the rest of it.

“We know it’s nowhere near done and we are taking nothing for granted. It’s nice to have a wee gap but it doesn’t mean much at the moment.

“Seven points is nothing in this league, it could be clawed back at any time.

“It’s going to be a really hard game as United have been outstanding.

“They had a rocky start but it shows their strength of character that they have come back into it.

“As I’ve said in the past, Craig Levein is a terrific manager and I expect him to go on to bigger and better things.

“They have a great captain in Lee Wilkie and they are full of talent and work hard as a team.”

Celtic gaffer Gordon Strachan confirmed that Aiden McGeady is back in contention.

The Republic of Ireland star returned to training this week after being suspended for a fortnight and fined two weeks’ wages following a dressing-room bust-up with Strachan in the wake of last month’s 1-1 draw with Hearts.

The manager was in no mood to expand upon the McGeady situation but did say, “Everybody who is fit is available.

“You don’t lose any base fitness over two weeks so everybody who is in the squad has a chance of being involved.”

United have no fresh injury problems, with Levein saying, “We had a really good training session and are all looking forward to this one.”

Levein has still to decide whether or not to recall striker Kevin Smith from his loan spell at Raith Rovers, while Jonny Russell is back from Forfar.