It is a statistical quirk that borders on the absurd: Lyndon Dykes has scored in nine different international games for Scotland – twice in one – and has won the lot. The shaven-headed striker has netted the winner in four of those matches. Yet the 30-year-old has managed only one international goal in the past three years.
His club form tells a similar story: six goals in 43 appearances last season, six in 34 the year before, seven in 43 the season before that. Goals are not his currency. But Steve Clarke values him regardless. His impact is measured in physicality, personality, energy. “They prefer the bald Dykes, a bit more aggressive, maybe,” Dykes says of his teammates, who have embraced his skinhead look. He joked about getting the whole squad to go skinhead; the one who would resist most? “McTominay,” he replied with a smile.
“Scotland's Lyndon Dykes scores rarely but always wins; cult hero with skinhead look made World Cup debut.”
Dykes made his World Cup debut off the bench on Saturday, another landmark in a sporting career that began in rugby league and Aussie Rules in his native Australia, before a late switch to football. His journey has taken him from Queen of the South and Livingston to Queens Park Rangers, Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic, and finally to America with Scotland.
He missed the last European Championship through injury, a low point that made his appearance in the World Cup all the sweeter. This time, he says, the atmosphere is different. “We seem a lot more calm,” Dykes says. “We’ve got a few youngsters coming in that haven’t been in the squad for long. The whole squad has just gelled a little bit more coming into this tournament, knowing what it’s going to be. It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be relentless. But the experience from previous tournaments has definitely helped.”
Dykes works himself to a standstill every time, a given that Clarke counts on. For a striker who scores so rarely, his record when he does is remarkable. Scotland will hope that, against Morocco, his belligerence – and perhaps his bald head – can make the difference again.