DANNY STEWART
With Dykes and Adams, maybe there is a double act in there
If international football had a transfer market, Scotland would surely be moving heaven and earth to try to persuade Eran Zahavi to jump ships ahead of Israel’s visit to Hampden next month.
No one who remembers the 34-year-old thundering in a tremendous equaliser against Steve Clarke’s side in Mount Florida last September will havetoaskwhy.
Or, indeed, his consolation goal on Glasgow’s southside back in 2018.
There is a theme here, and it is simple one.
The Israeli is a prolific goalscorer, who snaffles up a high percentage of the opportunities that come his way.
His record of 31 goals in 66 matches is terrific, as is his haul of 11 in the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.
Taking him away from Israel would not only rob them of one of their
biggest goal threats, but would also provide us with the perfect solution for one of our problem areas.
Denied such fantasy football remedies, Clarke has no option but to make the best of what he has at his disposal.
In that respect, one of the mostpleasing aspects of the uplifting victory over Austria in Vienna last Tuesday was the success of the partnership up front between Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes.
Clarke often speaks of the need to keep looking for upgrades for his side
They say necessity is the mother of the invention, and the presence of each man in the Scotland manager’s squad speaks volumes about the shortage of viable striking options at his disposal.
Born and raised in Australia, Dykes was persuaded not to declare for the Socceroos, but instead play for the country that had given him a start to his professional career.
Adams, who had represented England at Under-20 level, was likewise sold on the pathway that the Dark Blues could offer him to regular international football.
Clarke often speaks of the need to keep looking for upgrades for his side, and the capture of Adams ahead of the Euros was hailed as something of a coup.
So it was one of the letdowns of the Finals that the Southampton forward failed to shine on his step up in the manner that had been hoped for.
Dykes is a bit of a different case, in that he is a player who never stops rising to the challenges set him.
From an exotically-named outfit – Surfers Paradise Apollo – in Australia, over to Scotland and Queen of the South, a move to Livingston and then finally on to his current club, Queens Park Rangers.
If his displays in a dark-blue shirt have not quite forced his doubters to eat their words, they have certainly given them cause to swap them for more flattering ones.
His match-winning goals against Moldova and Austria that have revived our World Cup qualifying campaign were typical.
The first was a poacher’s steal at the back post, after the Moldovan goalkeeper had been taken out of the equation by Nathan Patterson’s shot.
The second was a penalty conversion, which squeezed under the body of diving Austria keeper, Daniel Bachman.
Neither are in running for Goal of the Season from any standpoint.
But in terms of the rocky road that might eventually lead to Qatar, all that mattered was that they went in.
And, as mentioned previously, his developing partnership with Adams is something to get excited about.
History has shown that, when it comes to strikers, the whole can often be more than the sum of the parts.
Two hitmen with a decent understanding of one another’s play, and complementing each other’s skill sets.
The classic example is that of a quick, wee forward playing off a big target man. It can prove unstoppable for opposition defences.
Scotland had Joe Jordan and Kenny Dalglish through the 1970s and on to the 1982 World Cup Finals.
Mark Hateley and Ally Mccoist wreaked havoc for Rangers during their nine-in-a-row run.
Denied his target man at international level by a birth certificate, Super Ally had Mo Johnston – another double act with Rangers – as they teamed up to fire Andy Roxburgh’s side to the 1990 World Cup Finals.
Adams and Dykes have a way to go to reach those levels, but have time on their side. Both are aged 25, and there is not a huge amount of competition on the horizon.
Steve Clarke was not pleased about what he perceived as a lukewarm response to the victory over Moldova.
But the team’s goals-to-chances conversion rate – a meagre 6.25% on the night – told its own story.
Better will be required against Israel if Scotland are to close in on the runners-up spot in Group F. If not, then certainly for the play-off tests that would lie ahead.
Zahavi will have a say in all that, but it’s to be hoped our own potential goalscorers will provide an even more compelling case on the night.