Stowe to join Rose
Linlithgow Rose have made their first signing of the close-season as Mark Stowe makes the move to Prestonfield from Camelon.
The 22-year-old forward signs for the Rose after leading the scoring charts for The Mariners during the disrupted 2020/21 campaign, finding the net 14 times.
While Stowe arrives in West Lothian, the club announced the departure of attacker Owen Ronald following a four-year spell.
Elsewhere, Armadale Thistle have signed goalkeeper Connor Shaw. The keeper signs on at Volunteer Park as the second new arrival following striker Colin Strickland penning a pre-contract agreement last week.
Whitburn have re-signed midfielder and club captain Martin Russell for the 2021/22 campaign.
David Martindale says an on form Lyndon Dykes is exactly what Scotland needs for their Euro 2020 campaign.
The former Livingston striker took time to get to grips with the English Championship following his summer move to Queens Park Rangers but has netted six times in his last six appearances.
That has taken him to 16 goals for the season, which includes two apiece with both Scotland and Livingston. And Martindale hopes to be cheering on as his former player leads the line for Scotland’s long-awaited return to tournament football this summer.
He said: “Scotland going to the Euros with a partnership of Lydon Dykes and Che Adams would be pretty phenomenal.
“It’s certainly what I would want to see if we’re going to play two up front. Adams playing off Lyndon would be absolutely brilliant for Scotland.
“It’s the partnership I would like us to play if Steve Clarke decides to stick with the 3-52 formation. It’s a pairing that could work well.”
Dykes netted 14 goals in 36 appearances for the Lions before moving to London for a club record fee of a guaranteed £1.7million in
August last year. Despite a slow start, the Australian-born ace has now hit the ground running just in time to spearhead the Scotland attack as they prepare to take on Czech Republic, England, and Croatia this summer.
Martindale said: “It has taken him a wee bit of time to adjust but I think Charlie Austin coming in at QPR has helped him and it’s helped the style of play which is suiting Lyndon.
“I’d watched a few games earlier in the season and I don’t think they were utilising him.
“The wide players and fullbacks are now getting the ball into the box more often and that’s helping him. There was a settling in period that every player has but I think Charlie coming in has helped twofold as it’s both experience for Lyndon to learn from and it’s also competition.
“He’s now got to grips with the level and he’s shown recently how good a player he is.
“His style of goals are what’s pleasing me because he’s scoring goals in different ways, which is brilliant for him and hopefully he can take that form into the Euros.”
Lyndon has shown recently how good a player he is David Martindale