Northern Ireland’s unofficial entertainment co-ordinator Warren Feeney is hoping to be given a licence to scare the life out of the Scottish defence tomorrow evening after taking his team-mates on a ghost tour last night.

The Dundee United striker, on a season long loan from Cardiff City, has taken on the role to bring much needed cheer to a squad that is down to its bare bones for this eagerly awaited Battle of Britain at Hampden Park.

After the withdrawals of skipper Aaron Hughes, Kyle Lafferty and George McCartney on Sunday night came the news that Peter Thompson is out of the game with a thigh strain.

Nigel Worthington’s squad has been reduced to a 16-man squad. The Northern Ireland boss though declined to bring in the reinforcements insisting he is happy to go with the players at his disposal.

So ever cheerful Feeney, who is set to win his 25th international cap, encouraged his team-mates to take an unscheduled walk around a haunted Castle in the picturesque town of Stirling yesterday.

Now after haunting ghosts and helping Dundee United to an impressive 1-1 draw with SPL champions Celtic on Sunday he plans to turn his attentions to Scotland.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s labelled as a friendly or qualifier a game against Scotland will always get the blood pumping,” admits Feeney.

“It’s actually still pumping for me after Sunday because I thought it was stonewall penalty for us against Celtic at the end and I would have been so glad to take it to give us the win.

“It wasn’t to be and I suppose

I’ll just have to accept it.

“I thought the ghost tour would have kept the adrenalin going but the ghost seemed to go into hiding when they knew the Northern Ireland boys were on their way.

“Seriously though, we are a proud nation and remember we are still the current holders of the British Championship. That is something we hold dear.

“I’ve come up to Scotland from Cardiff to play football this year and it’s all about playing games so I’m not overlooked when it comes to Northern Ireland.

“I know we’ve had a few withdrawals, however all the remaining lads are focussed on putting in a performance and getting a result. That would set us up nicely for the World Cup qualifier in Slovakia next month.

“I believe around 6,000 Northern Ireland fans are coming over – so it’s vitally important we don’t let them down.

“And it would mean so much for me to not only start but also score against Scotland. I haven’t scored in a while – it seems like that goal against Denmark at Windsor Park last November was my last goal.”

Likeable Feeney, who believes the rest of the SPL are catching up with the Old Firm, has started Dundee United’s two SPL games this season and is considered the favourite to partner David Healy up front.

Worthington though may cause a shock by dropping his traditional 4-4-2 formation and going all out attack. That would mean three up front – Healy, Feeney and Burnley’s Martin Paterson.

“I don’t care who I come up against, all I want to do is play for my country. Scotland may have a number of withdrawals but I still consider them to be dangerous – they have players performing in the Premiership and SPL afterall,” admits Feeney.

I suppose you could say be afraid, be very afraid!