Holt: Dykes like kid in a candy store
GARY HOLT reckons Lyndon Dykes will be like a “kid in a candy shop” as he prepares for his Scotland debut tomorrow night. But the Livingston manager is convinced his former prodigy will not be overawed by the occasion if he does get the nod from Steve Clarke.
Holt admits he will be a very proud man should Dykes make his international bow against Israel at Hampden. Having plucked him from Queen of the South and having watched the 24- year- old flourish in the Premiership before a bigmoney move to QPR, the Lions boss believes Dykes is ready to make the next step up.
And, after the Australia- born marksman pledged his future to Scotland, Holt is certain his new team- mates will relish playing with the man from Down Under.
He said: “I just think he’s a kid in a candy shop right now – it’s all new, he’ll be buzzing, he’s not going to be overawed.
“You might get someone going in there who might think, ‘ This is a bit much for me’. He’ll just go in there and embrace it. It will be like water off a duck’s back to him.
“Steve Clarke is not the kind to just do something because it is supposedly the right thing to do. He picks people on merit and if he chooses to play Lyndon it will be on merit and if he doesn’t he’ll choose him in his next squads to give him that opportunity.
Asked how he will react if Dykes is handed his debut, Holt, who won 10 caps for Scotland, added: “I’ll be over the moon.”
Meanwhile, fellow striker Lawrence Shankland admits he is desperate to get back to football and scoring goals for Dundee United in the hope he will be selected for next month’s crucial Euro 2020 play- off clash with Israel
The 25- year- old has not played since the opening Premiership game against St Johnstone on August 1 due to a persistent ankle complaint.
Shankland had to pull out of the national team for the UEFA Nations League clashes but is determined to be available for the October 8 semi- final play- off against the Israelis at Hampden.
Shankland said: “I need to concentrate on getting myself fit. But when I do that and get myself back in the team hopefully I can hit the ground running and get my season started, score some goals.”