Scotland supervisor Steve Clarke is contemplating “all choices” after dropping “pivotal” striker Lyndon Dykes to harm.
Dykes was carried off on a stretcher throughout coaching on Friday and has since been dominated out for Euro 2024 with lower than two weeks earlier than Scotland open the match towards hosts Germany on June 14.
The QPR striker has scored 9 objectives throughout 36 internationals and has typically been the point of interest of Clarke’s assault.
The setback leaves Scotland with solely Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland as recognised centre-forwards of their 27-player squad, which must be lower to 26 after their remaining warm-up recreation towards Finland on Friday evening.
Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes have performed within the majority of Scotland’s video games
Talking at his pre-match media convention in Portugal forward of Monday’s pleasant towards Gibraltar, Clarke stated: “I’ve given myself two or three days simply to consider it.
“There isn’t a like-for-like substitute for Lyndon as a result of he brings his personal qualities. I do not actually imagine in like for like. Lyndon brings his qualities, clearly we have not obtained them.
“I’ll have somewhat have a look at what’s round, I’ll resolve what to do with the squad and we are going to go from there.”
When requested whether or not he would name up one other striker, Clarke stated: “That is why I’m occupied with it.”
‘Dykes has been a pivotal participant’
Dykes performed in all eight of Scotland’s qualifiers, beginning 5 of them, and scoring as soon as.
“We’re all actually dissatisfied for Lyndon,” added Clarke. “The boys that obtained injured earlier get somewhat bit extra time to recover from it. Lyndon’s is correct on the final minute earlier than we go to the match.
Dykes has scored 9 objectives throughout 36 internationals and has typically been the point of interest of Scotland’s assault
“And he is been a great participant for us, a pivotal participant. Among the best phone conversations I ever had was once I phoned him up and gave him the choice to return and play for Scotland reasonably than Australia. Fortunately he selected us.
“That was 4 years in the past and I feel the trail the nationwide workforce has been on since then has been primarily an upward development.
“[I’m] grateful for what he has finished up till now, unhappy that he misses this match, however I stay up for working with him once more sooner or later.
“It was an ankle harm. No contact, simply the way in which he landed, the way in which he fell on it. It occurs, sadly. Earlier within the session, Lyndon made the same motion and nothing occurred. It is simply the way in which it’s.
“It’s a must to be fairly resilient as a coach, a supervisor and a participant and realise issues transfer ahead, and that is what now we have finished.”
Steve Clarke has named a provisional 27-player squad
Clarke beforehand hinted he would look to the Scotland U21 squad if any late call-ups had been wanted.
That would put Tommy Conway in pole place given the Bristol Metropolis ahead is with Scot Gemmill’s group forward of a pleasant in Turkey on Monday. The 21-year-old netted 12 objectives for the Sky Guess Championship facet final season.
Liverpool winger Ben Doak has performed in a central attacking function for Scotland Below-21s however the 18-year-old’s membership marketing campaign was ended by a knee harm in December and he’s nonetheless getting again in control.
Clarke is mulling over different eventualities as properly.
“Probably, however not essentially, that is what I’d do,” he stated. “It is one thing that we take into consideration on a regular basis.
“We prefer to have a reference to the Scottish younger workforce. I like to point out there’s a pathway to the A squad from the U21s.
“However clearly you’ve got to contemplate all choices and that is what I’ll do.”
Scott McTominay will not play for Scotland towards Gibraltar
In the meantime, Stuart Armstrong, Scott McTominay and John Souttar will not function for Scotland on Monday evening.
Manchester United midfielder McTominay got here off simply 25 minutes after approaching in its place within the FA Cup remaining win over Manchester Metropolis final weekend.
Southampton’s Armstrong has not performed since being stretched off final month whereas centre-back Souttar missed Rangers’ remaining three video games of the season.
Boss Clarke stated: “Stuart Armstrong, Scott McTominay and John Souttar will not play this recreation however I’m fairly assured they are going to all be good for the subsequent recreation.
“For me it is an opportunity to get some minutes on the pitch for some gamers, perhaps a barely unfamiliar line-up when it comes to individuals beginning the sport.
“We have nonetheless obtained one or two individuals getting back from a longer-term harm so we’re cautious to handle minutes.
“It is somewhat little bit of a balancing act to verify we get a great efficiency and a great consequence.
“A few of them perhaps did not get the minutes they needed in the direction of the tip of the membership season so hopefully we may give them some that get them in control for the match itself.”
Greg Taylor and Scott McKenna have joined the squad after further day off.
Scotland’s warm-up matches
Monday June 3: Gibraltar vs Scotland
Friday June 7: Scotland vs Finland
Scotland’s Euro 2024 group-stage matches
Friday June 14 – Group A: Germany vs Scotland (Allianz Enviornment, Munich)
Wednesday June 19 – Group A: Scotland vs Switzerland (RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne)
Sunday June 23 – Group A: Scotland vs Hungary (MHPArena, Stuttgart)
The highest two in every group plus the fourbest third-placed groups undergo
