“I was living in a hotel because I’d just moved here from Cardiff and my wife had just had a baby, so it was difficult not being at home and not seeing the baby every day,” he said.

“The birth meant I’d missed a bit of the pre-season training, so, when the game took place, my fitness was not how I would have liked it.

“This time, I’ve done all the work with the rest of the lads, so I am a lot fitter and, hopefully, that will show.”

Although it is second-time round so far as this fixture goes and there will be no Ronaldinho in the Barca ranks following his switch to AC Milan, Flood insists he and his team-mates are just as excited.

“You don’t get chances to play teams like them often and we are all really looking forward to it. It’s a friendly, we’ve got nothing to lose and, for us, it should be about going out there and enjoying the occasion and giving a good account of ourselves.

“And I certainly don’t think Ronaldinho not being here takes anything away from the game. They’ve still got huge stars like Henry and Messi and they’ve signed some big names, too.

“I really rate Alexander Hleb and I am looking forward to being against Daniel Alves because he is pretty special.

“He’s a full-back and I’d like to think I’d get a run at him, but it’ll probably be more a case of me chasing him than him chasing me.”

As well as rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in world football, Flood needs no reminding this is another important date in United’s pre-season.

To date, the emphasis has been getting game time and match fitness. Starting with tomorrow, he feels what is a new-look side must begin taking shape.

“I think we’ve done the fitness stuff and now we have to be getting our touch right and start coming together as a team.

“We’ve brought in a few new boys over the summer and they are looking good. Scott Robertson has impressed and scored a good goal the other night and, although he was injured for a while, Paul Dixon played against Raith last weekend and showed he is a strong full-back.”

In the wake of Noel Hunt’s departure for Reading, attention is going to be paid to the strike force and he believes the punters will like what they see.

“Sandaza has goals in him and so do Warren Feeney and the other guys. We’ll miss Hunty, but I think they’ll get the goals he got last season.

“I think he’ll keep scoring as well. He gives his all and, whoever he plays for, he always believes in his own ability.”

Meanwhile, Craig Levein has urged fans to snap up the few unsold tickets — because winger Lionel Messi is worth the admission price on his own.

The Argentine superstar missed last year’s Scottish trip, but arrived with a bang last night as Barca blasted six past hapless Hibs at Murrayfield.

“Messi is their main man and it’s great he’s coming, though I expect to hear from (left-backs) Paul Dixon and Danny Grainger that they’ve hurt their hamstrings and can’t face him,” joked Craig.

“He was superb against Hibs and the chance to see him alone would get me to the game.”

As last night suggested, it seems to be a more determined and focused Barca who are coming this time, but Craig is still relishing the chance to do battle with them.

“Playing them is a great opportunity and we are looking forward to it.”

Striker Kevin Smith has joined Raith Rovers on a six-month loan.

There will be two cash turnstiles open (gates 7 and 11) in the Jerry Kerr Stand only from 2 pm tomorrow. Admission £30.

“There is no question we would have preferred to hang on to some of the boys who’ve left, but the way the game is these days means you are never going to have a summer where there aren’t people leaving and new faces coming in,” said the ex-Clyde man.

“And when the gaffer has got people of the quality of Rab Douglas and Colin Cameron coming in, you have to feel that, in terms of experience and ability, you are going to have a strong team — I’ve been here 18 months now and the squad’s never been this strong before.”

Although the campaign is kicking-off at Recreation Park with a Challenge Cup tie, McHale insists there is a determination to get off to a winning start.

“First of all, it does not matter what the competition is, you always want to win your games. Tomorrow, the importance goes beyond that because we want to get the season off to a good start and show that we are up for what is to follow.”

With the belief at Dens being Hamilton’s now torn-up plastic pitch was a big reason why they won last season’s First Division promotion race, it is perhaps ironic that tomorrow will see Dundee play on another of the country’s synthetic surfaces.

It’s not something McHale is particularly looking forward to, but he has no fears over it.

“A lot of our pre-season was on Astroturf in Malta and we played a game on it over there.

“We’ve probably never been this well prepared for a game on it. I’m not saying we will enjoy it, but we are ready for it.”

Dundee have been forced to drop their interest in trialist Makhtar N’Diaye after it was confirmed he broke his arm against Bradford and will be out for a prolonged period.

Despite more reports to the contrary, Freddie Daquin has not been freed and is in tomorrow’s squad.

The Dark Blues have again been linked with Steve Lovell, but the club were adamant no transfer business was set to be done before tomorrow.