The QPR attacker was ruled out of Euro 2024 on Saturday, 24 hours after sustaining an ankle injury in training.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke is still pondering whether to call up another striker – and which one – following the withdrawal of Lyndon Dykes.
The QPR attacker was ruled out of Euro 2024 on Saturday, 24 hours after sustaining an ankle injury in training.
The blow leaves Clarke with just Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland as recognised centre-forwards in his 27-man squad, which has to be pared to 26 after Scotland’s last warm-up game against Finland on Friday night.
Liverpool winger Ben Doak has featured in a central offensive role for Scotland Under-21s but the 18-year-old’s club career was halted by a knee injury in December and he is still coming back up to speed.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke during a training session at Lesser Hampden (Steve Welsh/PA)
Speaking at his pre-match media conference in Portugal ahead of Monday’s friendly against Gibraltar, Clarke said: “I’ve given myself two or three days just to think about it.
Steve Clarke is assessing his striking possibilities (Steve Welsh/PA)
By Gavin McCafferty, PA
June 02, 2024 at 7:43PM GMT+1
Scotland boss Steve Clarke is still pondering whether to call up another striker – and which one – following the withdrawal of Lyndon Dykes.
The QPR attacker was ruled out of Euro 2024 on Saturday, 24 hours after sustaining an ankle injury in training.
The blow leaves Clarke with just Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland as recognised centre-forwards in his 27-man squad, which has to be pared to 26 after Scotland’s last warm-up game against Finland on Friday night.
Liverpool winger Ben Doak has featured in a central offensive role for Scotland Under-21s but the 18-year-old’s club career was halted by a knee injury in December and he is still coming back up to speed.
Speaking at his pre-match media conference in Portugal ahead of Monday’s friendly against Gibraltar, Clarke said: “I’ve given myself two or three days just to think about it.
“There is no like-for-like replacement for Lyndon because he brings his own qualities. I don’t really believe in like for like. Lyndon adds his qualities, obviously we haven’t got them.
“I will have a little look at what’s around, I will decide what to do with the squad and we will go from there.”
When asked whether he would certainly bring up another striker, Clarke said: “That’s why I am thinking about it.”
Tommy Conway is an alternative (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Clarke had stated he would look to the Scotland Under-21 team if any late call-ups were needed.
That might put Tommy Conway in prime position since the Bristol City attacker is with Scot Gemmill’s group ahead of a friendly in Turkey on Monday. The 21-year-old struck 12 goals for the Sky Bet Championship club last season.
However, Clarke is contemplating about different eventualities as well as turning to the under-21s.
“Possibly, but not necessarily, that’s what I would do,” he replied. “It’s something that we think about all the time. We wish to establish a link with the Scottish youthful team. I like to show there is a road to the A team from the Under-21s.
“But obviously you have got to consider all options and that’s what I will do.”
Lyndon Dykes (left) has been ruled out of Euro 2024 (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Clarke’s biggest concern in recent days has been dealing with the departure of Dykes, who has scored nine goals in 36 internationals.
“We are all really disappointed for Lyndon, obviously,” he added. “The boys that got injured earlier get a little bit more time to get over it. Lyndon’s is right at the final minute before we leave to the competition.
“And he’s been a good player for us, a pivotal player. One of the nicest telephone conversations I ever had was when I phoned him up and gave him the opportunity to come and play for Scotland rather than Australia. Thankfully he selected us.
“That was four years ago and I think the path the national team has been on since then has been mainly an upward trend. Grateful for everything he has done up till now, sad that he misses this event, but I look forward to working with him again in the future.”
Scotland boss Steve Clarke is assessing his offensive options following Dykes’ injury (Steve Welsh/PA)
Dykes was taken out on a stretcher during Friday’s training practice.
“It was an ankle injury,” Clarke added. “No contact, just the way he landed, the way he fell on it. It occurs, regrettably. Earlier in the session, Lyndon made a similar manoeuvre and nothing occurred. It’s just the way it is.
“You have to be quite resilient as a coach, a manager and a player and realise things move forward, and that’s what we have done.”
Other than Dykes, Clarke has a complete squad after the likes of Greg Taylor and Scott McKenna met up after extended time off, but certain players may be given longer time to overcome ailments.
“Stuart Armstrong, Scott McTominay and John Souttar won’t play this game but I am pretty confident they will all be good for the next game,” Clarke added.
“For me it’s a chance to get some minutes on the pitch for some players, maybe a slightly unfamiliar line-up in terms of people starting the game.
“We’ve still got one or two people coming back from a longer-term injury so we are careful to manage minutes.
“It’s a little bit of a balancing act to make sure we get a good performance and a good result.
“Some of them maybe didn’t get the minutes they wanted towards the end of the club season so hopefully we can give them some that get them up to speed for the tournament itself.”
“There is no like-for-like replacement for Lyndon because he brings his own qualities. I don’t really believe in like for like. Lyndon adds his qualities, obviously we haven’t got them.
“I will have a little look at what’s around, I will decide what to do with the squad and we will go from there.”
When asked whether he would certainly bring up another striker, Clarke said: “That’s why I am thinking about it.”
Tommy Conway is an alternative (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Clarke had stated he would look to the Scotland Under-21 team if any late call-ups were needed.
That might put Tommy Conway in prime position since the Bristol City attacker is with Scot Gemmill’s group ahead of a friendly in Turkey on Monday. The 21-year-old struck 12 goals for the Sky Bet Championship club last season.
However, Clarke is contemplating about different eventualities as well as turning to the under-21s.
“Possibly, but not necessarily, that’s what I would do,” he replied. “It’s something that we think about all the time. We wish to establish a link with the Scottish youthful team. I like to show there is a road to the A team from the Under-21s.
“But obviously you have got to consider all options and that’s what I will do.”
Lyndon Dykes (left) has been ruled out of Euro 2024 (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Clarke’s biggest concern in recent days has been dealing with the departure of Dykes, who has scored nine goals in 36 internationals.
“We are all really disappointed for Lyndon, obviously,” he added. “The boys that got injured earlier get a little bit more time to get over it. Lyndon’s is right at the final minute before we leave to the competition.
“And he’s been a good player for us, a pivotal player. One of the nicest telephone conversations I ever had was when I phoned him up and gave him the opportunity to come and play for Scotland rather than Australia. Thankfully he selected us.
“That was four years ago and I think the path the national team has been on since then has been mainly an upward trend. Grateful for everything he has done up till now, sad that he misses this event, but I look forward to working with him again in the future.”
Scotland boss Steve Clarke is assessing his offensive options following Dykes’ injury (Steve Welsh/PA)
Dykes was taken out on a stretcher during Friday’s training practice.
“It was an ankle injury,” Clarke added. “No contact, just the way he landed, the way he fell on it. It occurs, regrettably. Earlier in the session, Lyndon made a similar manoeuvre and nothing occurred. It’s just the way it is.
“You have to be quite resilient as a coach, a manager and a player and realise things move forward, and that’s what we have done.”
Other than Dykes, Clarke has a complete squad after the likes of Greg Taylor and Scott McKenna met up after extended time off, but certain players may be given longer time to overcome ailments.
“Stuart Armstrong, Scott McTominay and John Souttar won’t play this game but I am pretty confident they will all be good for the next game,” Clarke added.
“For me it’s a chance to get some minutes on the pitch for some players, maybe a slightly unfamiliar line-up in terms of people starting the game.
“We’ve still got one or two people coming back from a longer-term injury so we are careful to manage minutes.
“It’s a little bit of a balancing act to make sure we get a good performance and a good result.
“Some of them maybe didn’t get the minutes they wanted towards the end of the club season so hopefully we can give them some that get them up to speed for the tournament itself.
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