SCOTLAND manager Steve Clarke has relieved Lyndon Dykes of penalty kick duties after the striker’s missed spot kick in the Qatar 2022 qualifier against Israel at Hampden on Saturday night.
Dykes had a chance to put the national team 2-1 ahead just before half-time after Bibras Natcho fouled Billy Gilmour inside his own area.
However, the Queens Park Rangers man struck his attempt straight at former Hibernian goalkeeper Ofir Marciano and failed to convert.
The 19-times capped 26-year-old netted from 12 yards out against Austria in Vienna last month to secure a vital 1-0 triumph.
But another player will step forward if Scotland are awarded a penalty in the Group F match against the Faroe Islands in Torhsavn tomorrow night.
“I’ve already told Dykes that he’s not on the next one,” said Clarke. “We’ll decide depending on the starting line up. We decide from there. It just puts extra pressure on Dykes if he goes to the next one.
“No doubt tomorrow, when he’s calmed down a little bit and I’ve calmed down a little bit, he’ll come and ask me to take the next one.”
Clarke was impressed with how Dykes recovered from the disappointment of his penalty miss against Israel and scored a second-half equaliser.
The Australia-born player became the first Scotland internationalist to net in three consecutive World Cup qualifiers since Maurice Johnston did so in 1989.
Asked what he had told Dykes after the thrilling 3-2 win over Israel, Clarke said: “I just said I never doubted you. I don’t doubt him because he’s got character, but they’ve all got character.
“That second half performance, they dug deep for it, they dug deep for it. People keep saying that they don’t score goals but, on the night, we needed three and we got three. That’s good.
“Dykes misses the penalty. I said to the lads at half-time just make sure you bail Dykesy out. Last month he was the hero, this month he’s missed a penalty.”
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