Scotland boss Steve Clarke admits striker Lyndon Dykes can’t be ‘replicated’ as he ponders on who gets the nod in this evening’s friendly with Gibraltar (5pm UK time).
The Queens Park Rangers striker picked up an injury in training on Friday and the Tartan Army‘s worst fears came to reality when it was confirmed Dykes would be out for EURO2024 through an ankle injury.
That leaves Southampton’s Che Adams, Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland or uncapped Liverpool talent Ben Doak waiting in the wings to deputise for Dykes, and gaffer Clarke made it clear he doesn’t want to become reactionary and will look at the bigger picture before deciding who to bring on the flight to Germany next week.
He said: “Nobody replicates what Lyndon brings. Lyndon brings what he does, what his qualities are. One of the best phone calls I have ever made as the head coach of Scotland was to Lyndon, right at the very start when he had the option of Scotland or Australia.”
Embed from Getty Images“Since then we have had a great relationship. Lyndon is devastated that he is not going but I am really disappointed in myself that he is not going.”
“It wasn’t good. It was quite near the end of the session as well, which always seems to hurt a little bit more. We just stopped the session after that, there was no point in carrying on.”
“It was just the way he landed on his ankle. That was it. No connection with any player. He was trying to get on the end of a cross and it was just the way he landed. He is a key player for us on the pitch and also a key member of the squad off the pitch. We will certainly miss him.”
“I have got a couple of days so I will have to think about what to do. What is the best for the group, for the team and take it from there. The reason is so I can take a little bit of time so I can think about everything, the whole picture. The Under 21’s is an area where we will look, for sure, but there are other options out there.”
The Factor 50 will be packed on the trip to Faro with temperatures expected to be 24c come kick-off but so will the cotton wool as the injury list deepens: Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay and Stuart Armstrong, who has been linked with a move to Fiorentina or Fulham over the weekend, will miss this friendly match but are on course to return before the opener in Germany a week on Friday.
And for Leeds United defender Liam Cooper, he wants to put on a strong performance to put himself into the managers plans before the big one at the Allianz Arena against the weight of Germany.
He told the Scottish FA website: “This is going to be a good game for us. We don’t underestimate anybody and we’ve got to get a strong performance, full of energy.”
“You’ve got to put yourself in the manager’s thoughts whenever you play, whatever minutes you get.”
“You’ve got to be at your best and give your all for this team and, to be fair, every single player has in training and we drive each other.”
“We’ve got a great feeling around the place and obviously it’s going to be a tough decision for the manager and it’s going to be tough to take for whoever does miss out, but right now our focus is on obviously getting in that final squad and getting on that plane to Germany.”