CONOR PEPPER has been the one noising up his Morton team-mates ahead of tonight's Scotland against Republic of Ireland game.

But the former Ireland Under-19 star claims he may have to phone in sick for Ton's clash with Airdrie tomorrow if Martin O'Neill's men don't get the points at Parkhead.

In a Cappielow dressing room filled with Scots, the Dubliner has been flying the flag for his country in anticipation for the Euro 2016 qualifier by winding up his Scottish pals.

And while he won't be at the game this evening, Pepper admits he will struggle to show his face tomorrow morning if the boys in green fail to land a result against Gordon Strachan's men.

He said: "I'll not be at the game tonight because we are playing tomorrow, I'd prefer to watch it with my feet up and relax. A couple of the lads from the team are going to it I think.

"There will be a few of us who will meet together to watch it but I'll have the old jersey on and my face painted.

"There's a bit of banter around the game. It's coming from me to be fair because I'm the only one!

"I'll be struggling if we don't get a result! I'll phone in sick!"

He may not be attending the tie, but Pepper has seen close up the threat Scotland pose.

At the start of the season Morton played a bounce game against the national side with the Irishman sidelined through injury.

However it didn't stop him taking something from the experience.

Pepper said: "I was injured and missed the whole of pre-season so I was in the stand. I was winding the Scotland kit man up saying I was going straight to the FAI with all their training details and set-pieces."

Pepper and his Morton team-mates travel to Airdrie tomorrow for the second time in a week following their 2-0 midweek Scottish Cup third round replay win.

And he added: "We have to play them six times this season, it's a lot! But we're still looking forward to trying to keep our run going."