RYAN CHRISTIE is confident he can form a fruitful partnership with Lyndon Dykes after the striker earned positive reviews on his Scotland debut.
Boss Steve Clarke pitched Dykes straight into the starting line-up for the Nations League clash with Israel on Friday night.
Christie saw a first half penalty cancelled out as Scotland were held to a disappointing draw but the Celtic star was encouraged with Dykes’ physical presence up front.
He said: “It is something we have maybe been missing in previous games. He has been top quality in training.
“He hasn’t surprised everyone but when it is your first camp everyone is keeping an eye on how you do. He has come in and fitted in like a glove. He has been brilliant in training and straight away a player that I would love to play off.
“He can flip the game on its head, he wrestles centre halves and can bring others into play. I am sure he will come on to be a real big player for us.”
The inclusion of Dykes came on the night that Clarke switched to a back three line-up and there were mixed results as Israel merited their share of the spoils.
But Christie reckons the formation is definitely worth sticking with in the long-run.
He said: “It will become more second nature to us. It is the first time we have played it and I think everybody adapted well. The likes of KT playing that inside left role gives Andy the licence to push forward a bit and he is such an important player for us.
“Once we get it properly flowing and get ourselves in a more attacking mindset I think we can be very threatening in this formation.
“You have only got to look around the pitch and see the quality that we have so when it all comes together it should be good.”
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