Willo Flood is back for a fourth spell as a Dundee United player and he hasn’t changed a bit.
The 31-year-old is just as hungry for success as the day he first walked into Tannadice after then-boss Craig Levein secured him on a loan deal from Cardiff City.
And he’s just as honest. When asked a straight question, he gives a straight answer.
That’s why Arabs should be encouraged about what lies ahead for their team in this most vital of seasons.
When the Tele enquired if the Tangerines are ready for the Championship action that gets under way with the visit of Queen of the South on Saturday, his reply came without a hint of hesitation.
“Yes, we are, definitely,” was his emphatic answer.
In typical Flood fashion, he was quick to elaborate. Ready doesn’t mean perfect and he adds Ray McKinnon’s new-look team is by no means the finished article.
“We’ve had a good pre-season, I could see that when I came back from Aberdeen. The manager’s got the team organised but we will improve.
“In the games so far the fitness has been good but, over the next few weeks, we will get fitter.
“And we will get sharper. Against Dunfermline on Sunday we played well but I thought we should’ve scored a few more.
“It was a good result and we played some good football but we should’ve made more of our chances. That’s normal at this time of the season and we will get sharper.”
Likewise, and despite a first clean sheet of the group stages of the Betfred Cup in the 2-0 success over the Pars, as that match sharpness builds he believes defensively the Tangerines will get stronger.
“I thought we gave away a couple of chances that we shouldn’t have. That’s something we will work on and put right.”
Flood is also acutely aware this is not the same Dundee United he was with previously.
During his two loan spells at Tannadice under Levein and a two-year stay as a permanent signing when first Peter Houston then Jackie McNamara was in charge, he was part of a confident team.
It was one that grew used to top-six finishes and challenging for silverware in the knockout competitions.
Now he’s back, the Irishman admits he’s noticed the atmosphere is not quite the same, as much in the stands as the dressing-room.
He understands why and is determined that’s something else this team can put right.
“The other day the crowd got a bit edgy when we didn’t go up early on.
“We started very well and made a few chances but we didn’t score and I could feel the fans were worried.
“It’s because of what happened last season, I know that because I was here for quite a few of the games.
“But we’ve got players like Nick van der Velden and Scott Fraser who are quality going forward and, if we keep giving the ball to them, the chances will come and we’ll take them.
“The games I saw here last year Fraser got a bit of a hard time but he is a boy with a big future and he can go on to be a very good player.”
Never one to blow his own trumpet, if United are to be successful, from his deep-lying midfield role Flood has a big part to play.
Sharing that job with him is fellow anchorman Stewart Murdoch and he likes the way their partnership is shaping up.
“The whole team has come together quickly and Stewart and I are building up an understanding.”
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