Clarke delighted to get his man as Dykes opts for dark blue

QPR striker turns down chance to play

THE international tug-of-war over Lyndon Dykes that has been waged between Australia and Scotland this year has been hard-fought and just too close to call – but in the end the pull of representing the country of his parents’ birth proved decisive.

Now Steve Clarke, who yesterday named the Queens Park Rangers striker in his squad for the Nations League double-header against Israel and the Czech Republic, is hopeful Dykes can give his side a vital edge up front and help them get over the line in a few tense battles in future.

Clarke acknowledged the former Queen of the South and Livingston forward, who was brought up in the Gold Coast by a mother and father who originally hail from Dumfries, had an unenviable choice in front of him.

Graham Arnold, his Socceroos counterpart, was every bit as eager to secure the services of a player whose combative and energetic displays in attack caused Premiership clubs, not least Celtic and Rangers, big problems last season.

He is understandably delighted the 6ft 2in predator has pledged his future to his adopted homeland and confident he can add another dimension to Scotland’s play in the final third in their forthcoming fixtures.

“It was no big process,” he said. “It started in March. I had two or three phone calls with Lyndon. I was really honest with him and to be fair he was really honest 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 situation like that, I don’t think it’s fair to pressure anybody. It’s obviously 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 was the same. He has to be comfortable with the decision and I’m just pleased he chose to come with us.”

Clarke added: “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 going forward and hopefully that development will include becoming a key part of our squad going forward.”

Clarke feels if Dykes can cope with the step up to international football as effortlessly as he dealt with the move from the lower leagues to the top flight then he will have a potent weapon on his hands in the Nations League games – and possibly the Euro 2020 play-offs too.

“I like the fact he’s improving,” he said. “He came through at Queen of the South. It took him a bit of time but he found his level. He got better at Livingston. There were maybe a few questions about whether he would step up to Premiership 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 have 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. I think Lyndon can do that.

“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.”

That isn’t the case at leftback. Clarke has named both Andy Robertson, who won the Premier League with Liverpool last season, and Kieran Tierney, who lifted the FA Cup with Arsenal at the start of the month, together in the same squad for the first time since being appointed Scotland manager. Clarke is unconcerned about the quandary about where to play them both.

“I’m delighted that Kieran is in there, I’m delighted that Andy’s in there and we’ll find a way to play,” he said. The fact Kieran is back available for selection is a great thing because you want as many

It was a tough decision for the lad