DUMP 'EM THEN JOIN 'EM; THE CO-OPERATIVE INSURANCE CUP ... Conway tells Celts target Flood to light up Hampden and seal his dream move.

Byline: BY CRAIG SWAN 

CRAIG CONWAY last night urged Willo Flood to clinch his dream move to Celtic - by dumping his boyhood heroes out of the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

The fired-up Dundee United troops - including Parkhead transfer target Flood - head for Hampden tonight looking to sink the Hoops and book a place in March's showpiece final.

Tannadice manager Craig Levein swerved any further talk about his loan star departing to join Gordon Strachan's outfit later this week as he focused fully on the last-four showdown.

Conway, however, insists the stage is set for the Republic of Ireland ace to convince Celtic to swoop.

With Celtic yet to conclude any deal with Cardiff City, the 23-year-old reckons Flood can push the transfer through with a heroic performance tonight.

Conway said: "Hopefully, he can go and do that. If things are in the balance then, maybe, that could do it. But Willo has nothing to prove to anyone. He has proved just how good a player he is to everyone over the past two years and that he can make a step up.

"It's not affected us, all the talk. As far as we know he is playing for us and that's it.

"Willo has always had that kind of talk around him. He has played at big clubs like Manchester City, where there is always going to be transfer speculation. It's not something that is going to affect him.

"There has been a bit of banter and a few wind-ups in training.

There have been Gordon Strachan shouts and stuff like that but Willo's used to all that. At the end of the day, he is not really our player, so there is not a lot we can do. I'm just pleased it seems he will be lining up for us rather than against us.

"He's a great player and has been brilliant ever since he came to this club. He is a great lad to have around the place as well. I would hate to see him go, but would wish him all the best if that's what happens.

Brilliant "Of course, he will go out and do everything for the team. Willo has a winning mentality. Even in training, he runs about kicking people. He shows that desire every day and brings it into games. That rubs off on others."

United, of course, have more than Flood to offer and Conway believes the time is nigh for the club to make a major impact. Levein's team have yet to lose in four outings against Celtic and Rangers this season, but they haven't won either and the former Ayr ace is tired of plaudits instead of results in the bag.

He said: "We've had draws in our last four games with the Old Firm when we could have won them - especially the last couple.

"Okay we were 2-0 down at Celtic Park, but we had a couple of chances to win it after getting back to 2-2.

When we led at Ibrox we were getting praise for drawing 3-3.

"But we were so disappointed. It felt like we had lost because they had scored right at the end.

"The manager wants to win every game and he has instilled that in us.

We shouldn't be going to Ibrox, Parkhead or Hampden expecting anything less than a win.

"We have a really good squad of players and, hopefully, we can put it all together.

"We are all young, fit boys and we are starting to show we can handle it against the Old Firm. We just need to take it that step further, but I don't think we are too far away."

Ironically, Conway reckons the departure of another United hero - Barry Robson - to Celtic has helped the squad to develop and mature.

Robson quit Tannadice for Parkhead a year ago but the winger says the added responsibility placed on those who remained on Tayside has made them stronger.

Conway said: "When Barry was here we tended to put a bit of the onus on him. That's changed a bit this season because we are starting to score and create goals from all around the pitch.

"Barry was a great player and I learned a lot from him but when he left it was just at the right time. We had taken a lot from him and were able to start doing it for ourselves.

"We have a young team, but good experience like Darren Dods, Lee Wilkie and Warren Feeney to help us through."

Celtic, naturally, are favourites going into the tie but United carry confidence into the contest fuelled by their memorable and remarkable semi-final win over Aberdeen a year ago.

The Dons were trounced 4-1 at Tynecastle and Conway said: "The semi-final last year was probably our best performance of that season.

"It was a real highlight for me as well, because I'd had a small run of games and that was the night I think I stamped my place in the team.

Especially with scoring.

"Getting to my first senior final was a great night. We had real belief and even when we went behind we felt we were playing well. We need that kind of belief again.

"We went to Parkhead earlier in the season and came back from two down. We've shown we can take knocks and have the spirit to recover in matches."

Obviously, the dream turned sour in the final when United lost the showpiece to Rangers after a sickening penalty shoot-out defeat.

It's an awful memory which Conway admits is driving the squad.

He said: "Any neutral watching last season's final was probably on our side because of the circumstances with the chairman.

"It was a great day and it was just disappointing in the end. We should have won in 90 minutes or extra time.

"It's never nice going to penalties, although I suppose you always say that when you lose. But it was just so gut-wrenching for it to work out that way after dominating the game.

"Taking that extra step would mean so much to us. If we could win a cup then it would show us what can be achieved at this club. We are still in both this season so hopefully we can go the distance and maybe pick one up."

CAPTION(S):

CELTIC TARGET: Flood; CONWAY BACK: Steve Conway, with Craig Levein, reckons United can sink Celtic and book a return trip to Hampden; OLD HEAD: Lee Wilkie