Will Ferry says Dundee United are ready to deal with Celtic intensity

Dundee United defender Will Ferry is taking no encouragement from Celtic’s European exertions as he gets ready for a trip to Parkhead in the Premiership on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers’ side put in a terrific effort against Bayern Munich at Celtic Park on Wednesday night before losing 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off.

However Ferry, who signed for United from Cheltenham last summer, knows how strong the Hoops are domestically as they sit 13 points clear at the top of the table and on course for a domestic treble.

United held Celtic to a goalless draw at Tannadice in December before losing 2-0 at the Hoops in Glasgow in January.

Ferry said: “They’ve got a big squad, they’re able to make changes.

“And even when they make those changes, they bring in good quality and we know that. We’ve watched plenty of games this season.

“We’ve played them twice, so we know what they’re going to bring. They’re going to bring lots of possession, be intense, not give you a yard.

“We’ve dealt with it well at times through the season. We obviously got a point at Tannadice, and we played all right there (at Parkhead). I think we can we can go there and get something.

“We’re just going to go there and try and take what we can, whether it’s a point or a win. We’re not going there with any other attitude.

“We’ll just treat it like any other game. Stick to the game plan. Everyone knows it’s difficult to go there and try and get something but we go with our full belief, which needs to be solid.

“We will go there and stick to what we’re good at, which is staying in games and we know we’ve got a threat going forward as well, so hopefully everything comes together.”

United have lost three games in a row for the first time this season, their Scottish Gas Scottish Cup loss to neighbours Dundee followed by league defeats to Rangers and Kilmarnock.

Jim Goodwin’s side remain third in the table, two points ahead of Aberdeen, and Ferry is hoping the rest United had last weekend when the last 16 of the cup was being played will stand the Taysiders in good stead.

He said: “We’ve put together quite a few positive runs through the season so hopefully we repeat that.

“It was frustrating, not having the game. But it comes with a positive as well in the sense that we should all be fresh.

“We should all be ready to go, and who’s not going to be up for a game against Celtic?”