Steve delighted Lyndon opted to fight for Scotland spot
MONDAY night was a slightly anxious affair for Steve Clarke.
While he had penned the name of Lyndon Dykes into his 24-man squad for a double-header against Israel and the Czech Republic, a nagging fear remained the striker’s defection from Australia could still collapse at the 11th hour.
That he might walk into Hampden yesterday to discover the man whose services he has been attempting to secure all the way through lockdown might escape from his clutches having had his heart strings tugged all the way from Down Under.
So there was a touch of relief at 1pm when he announced to the world Dykes has indeed declared his allegiance to the country of his parents’ birth rather than opting to stick with that of his own.
The former Livingston man who made the £2million switch to QPR just last week has also changed the colour of his international shirt from yellow to blue.
Clarke seems pleased to have finally brought six months of highly sensitive, behind the scenes negotiating to a successful conclusion. But for Dykes, the hard part starts now.
“It all began back in March, when the games were originally scheduled,” Clarke revealed yesterday.
“I had two or three phone calls with Lyndon. I was really honest with him and to be fair he was with me. It was a really tough decision for the lad to make. Thankfully he came down on our side.
“I didn’t make him any big promises but I told him what I saw in the squad and what I saw for him. His attributes can help us and make the squad better. In a
BY KEITH JACKSON situation like that, I don’t think it’s fair to pressure anybody. It’s a big decision. His sister is an Australian international gymnast, he was brought up there.
“I didn’t want to put him under any pressure when I spoke to him and I’m sure Graham Arnold, Australia’s head coach, was the same. He has to be comfortable with the decision and I’m just pleased he chose to come with us.”
Yet there remained the fear Dykes might yet be talked into a late change of heart.
Some might say a U-turn. The Aussies were hoping he’d boomerang on Clarke right at the death.
But Clarke suspects the decision became easier for Dykes to stick to the moment he agreed to cross the border to England for a new start in the Championship.
The manager went on: “For Lyndon I’d imagine it would be a decision that’s based on family as well as football.
“It’s a long way to travel to Australia for international games, he’s just got his move to England and it’s a good move for him and I know QPR is a good club.
“Mark Warburton is a good coach who will help him to develop and hopefully that development will include becoming a key part of our squad.
“I like the fact he’s improving. He came through at Queen of the South and got better at Livingston. There were maybe a few questions about whether he would step up to that level but he did that comfortably and became a good striker in the Premiership. He’s improving, he’s strong, he doesn’t mind the physical side of the game.
“His hold-up play is decent and the way he plays will help us. We’ve a lot of good attacking midfield players and it’s important you have a striker who can hold the ball up and bring these players into play.
“He’s confident in his ability and feels he can come into the squad and challenge for a starting spot.
“That’s great because it’s an area of the pitch where we need a little more strength in depth.
“I have to mention Oli McBurnie. He maybe hasn’t quite caught fire on the international stage but he had a terrific season for Sheffield United last year in the English Premier League.
“That’s a difficult league to play in. Oli was a key part of how they played and did very well. I watched a lot of his games and I could see progress from Oli throughout the season which is great for us.”
The lack of a Leigh Griffiths or a Steven Naismith, for that matter, may also have helped convince Dykes that he was making the right choice. The loss of both will certainly have convinced Clarke that more options were urgently required.
Clarke has not spoken with Griffiths since the Celtic striker went back onto Neil Lennon’s naughty list.
But he has held a heart-to-heart with Tynecastle skipper Naismith who has been left out of this Nations League opener after almost six months in lockdown.
Both he and Hearts team-mate Craig Gordon could come back into contention for next month’s crucial Euro 2020 play-off semi final with the Israelis.
Clarke, though, has called up Rangers keeper Robby McCrorie who continues to impress him on loan at Livingston.
He said: “It’s a chance for me to look at a younger goalkeeper. Sometimes you have to have one eye on the future.
“Listen I have terrific goalkeepers. Jon McLaughlin is a really good goalkeeper. He has gone to Rangers and shown he has the capability to play there. He has kept clean sheets. “David Marshall has been my No.1 since I came in. David has got a nice move to Derby County and will play at a really good level again next year. “I could have picked Craig Gordon but I just felt this camp was a chance to look at one of the younger goalkeepers.”