STRIKE IT LUCKY
Dykes looks fit for Scots... with Stoke’s Brown a back-up option
LYNDON DYKES has been given the green light to join up with Scotland for their key World Cup double-header.
Talisman Dykes and Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie are suspended for next week’s crucial World Cup qualifier in Moldova.
Injured playing and scoring for QPR in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on Friday, the Loftus Road striker was also rated a doubt for the second game against Denmark.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke has given serious thought to a shock call-up for uncapped Stoke City attacker Jacob Brown.
Despite images of Dykes in a moon boot, however, QPR now expect the former Livingston striker to return for their weekend trip to Blackpool. And after scoring in his last four Scotland games, boss Mark Warburton has given his blessing to the 26-year-old joining up with the national team for the sell-out clash with the Danes.
Scotland need to win one of the two games to secure a play-off place for the World Cup finals in Qatar. And Clarke could still beef up his firepower for the trip to Chisinau next week.
With four goals and five assists in 15
appearances for Stoke, 23-year-old Brown has been tracked.
Regarded as one of the most improved players in the English Championship this season, the attacker is Yorkshireborn but qualifies for Scotland and scored for Michael O’Neill’s side in a 3-3 draw with Cardiff on Saturday.
West Brom’s Karlan Grant has also been placed under scrutiny, while Ross Stewart of Sunderland, Motherwell’s Tony Watt and Johnny Russell of Sporting Kansas City have been watched, too.
The Scots will head to La Finca in Spain for warm weather training before flying to Moldova.
However, key duo Kieran Tierney and Billy Gilmour (right) pose further questions for Clarke as he prepares to name his squad today.
The Arsenal defender’s last appearance for the Gunners came in a draw with Crystal Palace on October 18 — with club boss Mikel Arteta admitting he doesn’t know when Tierney will be fit.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, has urged Gilmour to stay and fight for his place at Norwich City.
The 20-year-old was sent on loan to the newly promoted Canaries for the season in a quest for regular game time in the Premier League.
And Blues boss Tuchel has now held talks with Carrow Road counterpart Daniel Farke over the Scotland midfielder’s lack of starts.
A standout performer for Clarke, the former Rangers youngster’s last start was the 1-0 win over the Faroe Islands on October 12. His lack of action poses a headache ahead of the crucial double-header. Asked if he was concerned about Gilmour’s lack of game time and whether Chelsea would consider recalling him in January, Tuchel said: ‘We will take the decision in January when it has to be made. In general, I spoke with Daniel about it and I was happy to meet Billy around the Norwich match at Stamford Bridge.
‘It was clear when we spoke about it that he wants more minutes and more game time at another club. The challenge was clear that he needs to fight his way through and this is where he is right now.
‘Things are not going as he maybe wishes, or as we all wish for, but it’s not the moment now to already give solutions and cancel the whole project. ‘Sometimes, these weeks and months arrive when the situation seems to be stuck or is not going the right way. You have to hang in there, show your quality and help your team. ‘For me right now, it’s not the moment to give solutions for January and open talks to bring him back.
’ Meanwhile, former Scotland manager Craig Levein feels Zander Clark should be handed another call-up. The St Johnstone goalkeeper turned in a stunning display in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Dundee United. Levein said: ‘If you’re going to pick a game, the game just before the announcement of the squad is the best time to have your best game of the season.
I think you’ve got to take that into account.’