Ben Doak Scotland debut chance as Steve Clarke makes Dykes replacement admission

Ben Doak could get his Scotland debut in tonight’s Euro 2024 warm up match against Gibraltar.

The Liverpool winger, 18, was a wildcard choice for Steve Clarke’s provisional squad despite being injured for the second half of the season. He’s expected to remain with the group when it is whittled down to 26 to head to Germany as he brings something different to the attack.

Still uncapped at full international level after impressing for the under-21s, he could earn his first cap in the Algarve this evening. Clarke was coy when quizzed on that chance but admits it could happen, even if only for a brief cameo from the bench.

He said: “Listen, Ben is in the squad to gain experience, to work with us. He has been out for four and a half months so let’s not put too much on Ben. He has trained for a couple of days – he didn’t train today just as part of his return to play, this was a day off his feet.

“He will be available, maybe some minutes off the bench. But let’s keep Ben in the right place. Let’s not over hype or over push him. Let’s do it properly.”

Meanwhile, the manager admits it’s impossible to replace Lyndon Dykes. The big striker heartbreakingly broke down with an injury in training that has ruled him out for the tournament. The boss says no-one else does what he does.

He added: “Nobody replicates what Lyndon brings. Lyndon brings what he does, what his qualities are. One of the best phone calls I have ever made as the head coach of Scotland was to Lyndon, right at the very start when he had the option of Scotland or Australia.

“Since then we have had a great relationship. Lyndon is devastated that he is not going but I am really disappointed myself that he is not going. It wasn’t good. It was quite near the end of the session as well, which always seems to hurt a little bit more. We just stopped the session after that, there was no point in carrying on.

“It was just the way he landed on his ankle. That was it. No connection with any player. He was trying to get on the end of a cross and it was just the way he landed. He is a key player for us on the pitch and also a key member of the squad off the pitch. We will certainly miss him.

“I have got a couple of days so will have a think about what to do. What is the best for the group, for the team and take it from there. The reason is taking a little bit of time is so I can think about everything, the whole picture. The 21’s is an area where we will look, for sure, but there are other options out there.”