The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Is just Dykes’ style
Premier League stars likely to get starts
The Scotland management team are keeping their options open but it seems inconceivable they won’t end up finding starting places for their two high-profile English Premier League stars,
Eric Nicolson. writes
The smart money should go on former Dundee United favourite Andy Robertson being kept at left-back, the position in which he is widely regarded as being among the best in the world with Liverpool.
And that would probably mean Arsenal’s Tierney moving to left-sided centre-half, either in a two in the middle, or a three.
The build-up to Friday night’s Nations League clash with Israel at Hampden Park will be the first time assistant coach Steven Reid has been part of a discussion as to how Saturday’s Community Shield opponents can be best deployed on the same team.
It’s not a conundrum to be worried about, though. It’s to be embraced.
“That’s one we will look at this week,” said Reid. “Kieran has played numerous positions going back some time now.
“At Arsenal in more recent times he has been playing in that left-sided centre-back role, left wing-back and has also played right-back some of the time.
“It is just about assessing first and foremost the best team to challenge the weaknesses of the opposition and then go from there. Both are top class players and playing at top clubs. It was obviously interesting watching them playing at the weekend in the Community Shield.
“Kieran has not been involved with a squad since I have been here and it has been great to actually see him out on the grass and see what a winner he is as well.
“Right away you pick up on his work ethic, his attitude to training. He does not like losing any type of little game even in training – that’s the type of attitude you want in and around the squad. That winning mentality.
“He’s starting to get the silverware in England as well. It has been a difficult period for him at the start with the injuries but that seems to be behind him now and hopefully he can kick on for club and while we’re here, more importantly, for country.”
It would be a stretch to say that Scotland are hoping to pick up where they left off with their last win against Kazakhstan given it came in November.
But Reid doesn’t believe the long time away from international football means this is a total restart they are preparing for.
“Hopefully we will carry on the momentum from the last three games,” he said. “The last camp was a great one with two good positive results and two good performances.
“It’s been a long time not playing and being on that grass coaching. I came here thinking it had been a while since I had taken a session but it comes back quickly. After the initial get-together on Sunday night and then the warm-up on
Monday morning, you’re straight back on it.
“My voice is a little bit gravelly actually because I’ve not shouted like that in a while. But you feed off the energy of the players. It’s nice to be back in amongst it and buzzing again.”
There will be no supporters in Hampden Park but the TV Tartan Army could do with a spirit-lifting win and performance.
“Yes, it definitely would lighten the mood,” said Reid. “The restart has now begun and we are finally back together and looking at two crucial big games coming up and then the play-off game to look forward to in the next camp, which should have been in March ahead of the Euros this summer.
“Everyone has had their own difficulties and issues this year — not just on a football pitch but with people’s heath. But hopefully we can give everyone a lift with this. It’s going to be a shame the fans are not allowed in but we know that the country is going to be behind the players.”
Lyndon Dykes has made a good first impression with Reid ahead of what is expected to be a debut start on Friday.
“I said to him in the warm-up that he is here on merit,” said Reid. “He has been watched very closely for a long period of time now, even going back into last season.
“There will be tactical elements but ultimately he should stick to what got him in this Scotland squad in the first place.
“He is a confident lad and a good personality, who has fitted straight in. Hopefully he has a big future with Scotland.
“He is in with a good shout of playing. We will assess it as the week goes on. We are looking forward to seeing a little bit more of what we did this morning. He hit the ground running.”