TippedforthetopandLivi’sroleinDykes’rise
Lyndon Dykes has helped keep Scotland’s World Cup dreams alive – and has been tipped to give Premier League defenders nightmares by landing a big-money move.
Dykes shot himself to prominence at Livingston before leaving for QPR in August last year. Within days, the 26-year-old made his international debut and has now cemented himself as a Tartan Army hero with four goals – three of them winners – in the nation’s last four games.
Livi boss David Martindale, who plucked Dykes from relative obscurity at Queen of the South in 2019, is not surprised with his meteoric rise to international fame.
He said: “You’d be stupid to think there are not bigger clubs in the Premier League in England looking at him.
“I’m not wanting to quote the manager’s name. But let’s just say one of the top six managers in the world I know has a personal opinion on Lyndon and really, really likes him.
“There are a lot of big, big managers looking at Lyndon. He probably doesn’t suit the big teams’ style of play. But you’re not telling me Lyndon couldn’t go and play for a Burnley or an equivalent in the Premier League in England.
“He’s got all the attributes. He’s a physical athlete, and he can battle with defenders and outrun defenders and outjump defenders. What else do you want?
“Outside England’s top six, who can basically buy any striker they want in the world, could Lyndon fit into those teams’ style of play? I think he could, and I think he would thrive.
“You can see in Lyndon the ability to learn and the ability to progress, and that’s massive.
“He’s played against some right top players in the games he’s played for Scotland.
“The modern-day centre-half has got a bit of everything. They’re all very, very good football players. But what they hate doing against players like Lyndon is defending.
“Generally, they’re top, top technical players, and usually their team dominates possession. The one thing some of them are missing is the ability to defend, because they’ve not been doing it.
“I’ll guarantee you every single player hates playing against Lyndon Dykes. They’ll all know who he is when they come off the park.”
Dykes, suspended for the key clash with Moldova, has come in for some criticism for his playing style. But six goals in 20 appearances is proof of his value to the national team.
Martindale added: “We put a lot of coaching into Lyndon. Of his six goals for Scotland, I’m pretty sure four of them have been across the front post and that was a massive part of what we worked on with him.
“We worked on getting the ball out wide, and delivering the ball in for Lyndon. I still speak to him about that, and it’s good to see the coaching points we delivered at Livingston are now helping the national team.”