Dundee United midfielder Willo Flood has given the green light for new contract talks to begin.
After being hugely impressed by Flood in his first two games in charge, new manager Jackie McNamara has made keeping the former Celtic and Manchester City man at Tannadice beyond the summer, when his current deal expires, one of his top priorities.
And he’ll be gladdened to hear that the player himself is keen to get the ball rolling.
“I’d be open to it,” Flood told Courier Sport. “I’m enjoying my football, and if you’re enjoying your football, you’re happy.
“We’ll wait and see what happens. I’m sure the club will speak to my agent over the next few weeks and we’ll take it from there. I haven’t even given it a second thought to be honest. I’ve just been concentrating on trying to win games for Dundee United.
“Hopefully something can get sorted out, and if not, we’ll just take it day by day.”
Flood has been outstanding for McNamara but he was also happy with the standards he had set before the managerial change.
“I think my performances have been good throughout the season,” he said. “I’ve always thought central midfield is my best position and if people think I’ve just turned up for the last two games they’ve got it wrong.”
The Dubliner does acknowledge, however, that McNamara’s tinkering with United’s formation has been to his liking.
He noted: “I’ve played a bit more advanced under the new manager. We’ve played with Ranks (Jon Rankin) sitting, Stuart (Armstrong) at the head and me kind of in between, sitting and going forward. That’s maybe helped me a bit more.
“It’s a slight change because under the old gaffer we played 4-4-2 a lot more, whereas under the new gaffer it’s 4-3-3. That gives you a bit more licence as a midfielder to join in with the attack more and support the strikers.”
Two out of two under McNamara is as good as the United players could have hoped for, but making it three out of three will be a big challenge, as next up on Saturday are Celtic at Parkhead.
“It’s a good one to look forward to,” Flood said. “I think we let ourselves down at Celtic Park the last time (they lost 4-0 in January). We conceded a goal early doors and lost our shape a little bit after that.
“But we could have actually gone a goal in front, and getting the first goal at Celtic Park is vital. Hopefully we can keep it tight in the first half 0-0 is a good score and then express ourselves more in the second half.”
He added: “We’re going there full of confidence this time. Obviously it helps that Gary Mackay-Steven is back fully fit. He’s looking good and so is Johnny Russell.
“We look a real threat going forward and the boys at the back are looking solid as well. We’re going in the right direction.
“This is the real test for us. It’s the biggest in the league. I’m sure the Juventus game will take a lot out of them and the atmosphere will be a lot different obviously, but Lenny will get them going again for us on Saturday.”
enicolson@thecourier.co.uk