DYKES WON’T BURST LIVI IF HE JOINS GERS
JON GUTHRIE insists Livingston top scorer Lyndon Dykes deserves to be linked with Rangers – but the Lions will cope if they lose their Aussie marksman.
The 24-year-old is reportedly on the Gers’ radar as they need another option to back up Alfredo Morelos with Flo Kamberi’s loan up and Jermain Defoe another year older.
Dykes’ powerful displays for Livi last term saw him bag nine goals and led to talk of a Scotland call-up should he declare himself available for a cap.
He also signed a contract extension last December, tying him to the West Lothian club until the summer of 2022.
While defender Guthrie doesn’t want to lose the former Queen of the South attacker he is sure the club will simply rebuild as they’ve done before.
Asked about Dykes being linked with Ibrox he said: “There’s not much we can do about that. He’s had a great season so it’s no surprise for him to be linked with clubs. He deserves that.
“But the club has shown they can cope. People were worrying about us losing players last season but we recruited well.
“Every club goes through that, probably Livingston more so than others with the amount of players they have lost.
“If it comes to that it’s just about replacing them. We’ve got a good squad, not just a starting 11. We’ve got players who can come in and do a job as well.
“Obviously we want to keep as many of our better players as we can.”
A new Livi addition who has had a big impact at the other end of the park is Efe Ambrose.
Thanks in large part to the persuasion of ex-Hibs team-mate Marvin Bartley, the former Celtic defender penned an 18-month deal at the Tony Macaroni Arena just before football was shut down.
Ambrose made his debut in a 1-1 draw at old stomping ground Easter Road before helping Livi to another point against his other former club in a 2-2 with Celtic.
A narrow defeat to St Johnstone was his third and last appearance of the campaign before the game was forced into Covid-19 cold storage.
Guthrie revealed he can’t wait to play alongside the experienced Nigerian international once again when the action finally gets under way.
The Englishman, 27, admitted Ambrose has already made a difference despite limited game time and is eager to learn more from him when the Lions are eventually allowed back to training.
He added: “It’s more just his aura and the sort of player he is.
“What a career he’s had, playing at the top. He gives you advice along the way.
“He’s played three games but you can tell his class straight away. He’s been brilliant and it’ll be great to learn more from him.”