Flood can handle Old Firm - Hartley

Flood, who arrived from Dundee United in the January transfer window, was cup-tied for last week's Homecoming 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 SPL 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 all 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 today 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 whole 90 minutesHartley, 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."He's had a long trip during the week but that won't matter. We've had Naka on that trip too, and he played the whole 90 minutes. 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 had a knock and I just had a few days of rest and treatment."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."

Source: Team_Talk