Tapping of Tannadice resources has worked well as Strachan vows to come calling again

IN THE Gordon Strachan era, Hibernian have always been presented as Celtic's most prominent 'feeder club'; a term to raise the hackles of those supporting teams who regularly have their best players gobbled up by the beast at the top of Scottish football's food chain.

Yet Strachan has feasted on as many performers from Dundee United as the Leith club. Three of those on the books of the champions were signed directly from Tannadice: Willo Flood, Mark Wilson and Barry Robson. When the two teams meet on Tayside this afternoon Celtic will have a further player-in-waiting in the home ranks with keeper Lukasz Zaluska having signed a pre-contract agreement in January. Paul Caddis is another signed Celtic player at United, but the on-loan midfielder will be prevented from turning out against his permanent employers.

In the absence of a successful bid for Steven Fletcher during the last window, the number of players enticed to the title holders from the east, meanwhile, also stands at four; half of the number the Leith club have lost in a major talent drain. And while Scott Brown and Gary Caldwell have prospered at Celtic, Chris Killen has not and Derek Riordan has already returned to Easter Road with tail between legs.

Strachan suggests it is no accident that he finds United such a fertile place to shop. In one sense, the Tannadice manager, Craig Levein, actively encourages this. He has admitted selling United to prospective signings by using the examples of Robson and Flood as proof the club can offer a platform allowing players to seal dream, or career-defining, moves. It is ultimately Levein's mentoring and moulding that paves the way for these to become reality and Strachan acknowledges the impressive tutelage given to his United purchases.

"The three lads who have come in from Dundee United have been absolutely fantastic. Their attitude is spot on," he says. "Dundee United can be proud of the guys they've looked after, that's for sure."

The Celtic manager is proud enough with the character and willing of those schooled at United to make him predisposed towards returning to the club for future squad augmentation.

"I would think so," Strachan says. "I'm sure they don't like that thought at Dundee United, but it's actually a compliment I'm paying here. These guys have come up the hungry way, if I can put it like that. They have a hunger about them; a desire and respect for their team-mates, so they've picked up a lot of good habits."

Wilson, Strachan's first Celtic signing from a Scottish club with his £500,000 switch in January 2006, would have picked up many more senior outings but for a dodgy knee and a couple of other debilitating problems. The full-back's substitute appearance in the Co-operative Insurance final win last Sunday marked his first outing in two months.

Robson has endured a similar period on the sidelines, but has yet to be restored to full fitness following a groin operation. Flood being cup-tied meant he was not eligible for the club's past two games. Indeed, since a £50,000 deal brought him to Celtic Park seven weeks ago, the Irishman has made only one, 62-minute, appearance. But Strachan has seen enough of the miniature midfielder at Lennoxtown and in United colours to believe he could be a big player for him. "Willo has impressed the coaches and the players, which is most important. We think we've got a right good player," he says.

It speaks volumes about Levein's capacity for team renewal that United have thus far remained competitive against Celtic despite losing some of their best players to them. Hibs will testify to the fact, however, that maintaining high standards when selling those responsible for setting them is hellishly difficult in the long term.