Scotland supervisor Steve Clarke is contemplating “all options” after shedding “pivotal” striker Lyndon Dykes to damage.
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 event towards hosts Germany on June 14.
The QPR striker has scored 9 targets throughout 36 internationals and has typically been the focus 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 minimize to 26 after their closing warm-up sport towards Finland on Friday night time.
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 alternative 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’ve not acquired 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 requested whether or not he would name up one other striker, Clarke stated: “That’s why I am thinking about 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 are all really disappointed for Lyndon,” added Clarke. “The boys that got injured earlier get a little bit more time to get over it. Lyndon’s is right at the last minute before we go to the tournament.
Dykes has scored 9 targets throughout 36 internationals and has typically been the focus of Scotland’s assault
“And he’s been a good player for us, a pivotal player. One of the best telephone conversations I ever had was when I phoned him up and gave him the option to come and play for Scotland rather than Australia. Thankfully he chose 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 done up until now, sad that he misses this tournament, but I look forward to working with him again in the future.
“It was an ankle damage. 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 an identical motion and nothing occurred. It is simply the way in which it’s.
“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.”
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 might 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 targets for the Sky Wager Championship facet final season.
Liverpool winger Ben Doak has performed in a central attacking position for Scotland Beneath-21s however the 18-year-old’s membership marketing campaign was ended by a knee damage in December and he’s nonetheless getting again in control.
Clarke is mulling over different eventualities as nicely.
“Possibly, but not necessarily, that’s what I would do,” he stated. “It’s something that we think about all the time.
“We wish 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.
“But obviously you have got to consider all options and that’s what I will do.”
Scott McTominay will not play for Scotland towards Gibraltar
In the meantime, Stuart Armstrong, Scott McTominay and John Souttar will not characteristic for Scotland on Monday night time.
Manchester United midfielder McTominay got here off simply 25 minutes after approaching in its place within the FA Cup closing win over Manchester Metropolis final weekend.
Southampton’s Armstrong has not performed since being stretched off final month whereas centre-back Souttar missed Rangers’ closing three video games of the season.
Boss Clarke stated: “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.
“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’ve still got one or two people coming back from a longer-term injury so we are careful to manage minutes.
“It is somewhat little bit of a balancing act to verify we get a superb efficiency and a superb outcome.
“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.”
Greg Taylor and Scott McKenna have joined the squad after further time without work.
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 Area, 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
