Lyndon Dykes tips Birmingham team mate for surprise Scotland call-up as he opens up on his own year of hell
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BIRMINGHAM may have stormed their way to the League One title — but it's been a year to forget for hitman Lyndon Dykes.
The Scotland striker was a big-name arrival from QPR last summer, but only scored one goal for the Blues in an injury-plagued campaign.
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But Dykes, 29, hopes to use the close season to get back to peak fitness.
He said: 'It's been my most difficult campaign with injuries. Getting injured before the Euros was very disappointing, and being injured during the back end of last season too and being out for a long time has been really tough.
'But I was back on the grass towards the end of the month and I've been working a lot in the gym.
'I'm feeling really good. Being injured and being in a boot for so long, you have to focus on other things.
'I've been focusing on working as much as I can to put a lot of muscle on, and make sure I come back in the best possible shape.
'If you feel good on the pitch, you can perform. That's what I aim to do.
'I didn't want to go down to League One, but what they are trying to do for the future at Birmingham is something that appealed to me.
'This season was a step backwards but it was two steps forward as well. We had a great campaign, we beat the world record for points in a season — 111 points.
'The way Birmingham is growing and the way I'm feeling, it's going to be a very successful future. Hopefully I can be a part of that."
Dykes was a key man in Scotland's 2022 World Cup qualifiers with key goals, including three winners against Moldova, Israel, Austria and the Faroes.
He believes he can recapture that form — despite not having scored a goal for his country since the win in Norway in June 2023.
Dykes added: 'The best feeling in the world is scoring goals.
'I went on a great run for Scotland in the last World Cup qualifying campaign, I got big goals when we needed them. That's what I aim to do again.
'I've been stuck on nine goals for a little bit now so I'm desperate to hit double figures.
'The World Cup is the aim. I was lucky enough to play in the first Euros we qualified for, now I want to be there next summer too.
'If we qualify for the World Cup it would be absolutely amazing for the whole country.'
Dykes has been left out of Steve Clarke's squad for the friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein, but he insists they are vital to rebuild morale in the Scotland squad.
He said: 'They are definitely important games. It can be difficult, having friendlies in the summer because it's a long season for boys, and there will be some guys playing with injuries.
'But there will be boys looking forward to being in a team environment and getting some minutes to get ready for next season.'
Injuries aside, Dykes also spent eight days in hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia two years ago, and it took him a while to recover.
He added: 'I've been through a little bit, in the hospital with health stuff. You've just got to get through it — it builds your character and makes you stronger in the long run.
'That's why I've switched my brain to think about the positives of some things, like going out to the Euros last summer, and just being around the boys and doing a little bit of TV work there.'
Dykes has tipped Blues midfielder Marc Leonard — a former Rangers youth player — as someone Clarke should be watching.
He said: 'I definitely think he could make the step up. He hasn't featured in the full Scotland squad yet but he'a a great player.
'From what I've seen of Marc he's definitely got a future, and he could be someone we look to going forward.'
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