GREENOCK footballer Luke McCowan says he is relishing the opportunity to face his home town team Morton next season as he prepares for life in the Championship with Dundee.

The winger was part of the side that dropped out of Scotland’s top flight after just one season and is now aiming to help the Taysiders bounce straight back to the Premiership next term.

While McCowan knows he'll be in for a tough afternoon when the Dens Park men visit Cappielow, he is looking forward to getting the chance to play in front of his family once again.

He told the Tele: "I know a couple of the Morton players from just playing against them and I am looking forward to playing at Cappielow again.

"There is nothing better than playing against your local team.

"I have loved it for years.

"But the best thing is that most of my family will be able to come and watch.

"They haven’t been able to watch when it came to my home games because it is quite far away, so I am happy with that.

"You always get the same thing when you come up against Morton, a hard-working team that is going to make it hard for you to put the ball in the net."

The 24-year-old believes that being the side that dropped down from the Premiership will make Dundee the team to beat next season.

McCowan has stressed that consistency will be key to a successful campaign.

He said: "Hopefully with us coming down we can bring some more of the quality from the Premiership down into the Championship.

"We can dominate the ball. I know games don’t work like that, but I'm hoping that is the case.

"The biggest challenge we have is trying to get the ball in the net. We’re not trying to stop it every week or you are trying to get last minute winners.

"But we know how difficult it will be going to the likes of Arbroath, Ayr and Morton away.

"These venues are as hard as anywhere in Scotland, but the boys are looking up for the challenge.

"We just have to push on and work hard.

"Everybody notices that about the Championship, that anyone can beat anybody on their day.

"We have to try and stay as consistent as possible."

The former Ayr United man was gutted the campaign ended in relegation and is determined to right some wrongs next season by bouncing straight back to the Premiership.

However, McCowan says testing himself against the likes of Celtic and Rangers was a valuable experience.

He added: "Last season was a negative one. From the team's point of view to go up and then go straight back down was hard to take.

"It was a positive one personally just as an achievement to play in the top flight.

"To play against the likes of Celtic and Rangers, and get a few goals in that league as well.

"But it is most important what we are like as a team, so I am disappointed with the whole season.

"But we just need to prove we have the mentality to bounce back once the season starts."