‘We knew he’d go to Celtic’

SHEFFIELD Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri admits he knew the club were facing a losing battle to hold onto Liam Shaw as soon as Celtic made their move.

The highly-rated midfielder agreed a pre-contract switch to the Parkhead club last month after stalling on a new Owls deal.

The 19-year-old burst on to the first-team scene last September and Celtic were already aware of Shaw before Wednesday got round to discussing a new contract. Chansiri said: “I thought he was going to go to Celtic because of the agent talking to Celtic. When he had a chance to play for the first team, he did quite well and we tried to keep him.

“We talked to them a long time but they asked to wait. I heard from my people, some fans say why didn’t we try to sign him last year or before. I believe no-one talked about him last summer. We tried to extend the contract but the agent asked to wait and wait. We knew something was wrong, it’s normal in football.”

LYNDON Dykes insists he is determined to do his family proud by leading Scotland to success in this summer’s Euro 2020 finals.

The QPR striker has played an influential role in the nation qualifying for a major tournament for the first time since the 1998 World Cup and is desperate to ensure he enjoys the big stage.

The former Livingston and Queen of the South player has struggled for goals at club level since making the switch south of the border, netting just five times

– four penalties – in 29 games.

But the Gold Coast-born marksman, who was persuaded by Steve Clarke to commit his international future to his parents’ country of birth, is already relishing the prospect of games against the Czech Republic, England and Croatia in June.

The 25-year-old said: “It will be special. It’s been a long time for Scotland as a nation. I’ll be really stoked. Hopefully I’m involved there and can do my best so my family will be proud.”