His son has ‘Dykes 9’ on the again of his shirt and Craig Beattie has little doubt the QPR hitman has earned the label of Scotland’s first alternative striker.
Nevertheless it’s one other powerhouse ahead, Ross Stewart, who the previous Celtic and Scotland frontman reckons is primed to make a reputation for himself on the worldwide scene.
Beattie is aware of what it’s like to hold the burden of aim expectation for Scotland. And he insists Steve Clarke is now blessed with glorious choices within the hazard zone after years of not realizing the place the following strike was coming from.
Dykes, he expects, will lead the road for the crunch World Cup play-off semi ultimate in opposition to Ukraine at Hampden subsequent Wednesday. Che Adams is more likely to play simply off him.
However the presence on the bench of towering Sunderland striker Stewart, recent off a 26-goal season that helped the Black Cats win promotion to the Championship by way of the play-offs, might show very important in shocking the Ukrainians.
Beattie stated: “I’m a giant fan of Ross Stewart and have been for a very long time.
“I used to be performing some commentary for BBC on the Problem Cup ultimate a couple of years in the past between Ross County and Connah’s Quay Nomads.
“Ross was enjoying and he was phenomenal in that cup run. I keep in mind going onto Radio Clyde and I used to be singing his praises.
“The host Gordon Duncan thought as a result of I used to be speaking about him a lot that we have been associated or one thing!
“He’s went to Sunderland and he's on a excessive after scoring within the ultimate to get them into the Championship.
“He is tall, sturdy, fast, good with the ball at his ft and a very good finisher, what extra are you able to ask?
“Folks pays large cash for somebody with these attributes.
“He’s a menace there’s little doubt about it and he’s a unique choice and somebody the Ukraine gamers most likely gained’t come up in opposition to too typically.
“I believe Lyndon has stepped up after we want him within the qualifying marketing campaign and scored some very important targets to get us this far.
“For me he has earned the quantity 9 shirt however Ross can be placing him beneath strain.
“It is going to be a giant step from League One to worldwide soccer however I imagine he can do it.
“All of the strikers are at a very good age and I believe in the event that they hold progressing then we might have good competitors up entrance for the following few years.”
Proper now although the shirt belongs to Dykes who final 12 months matched a 52-year Scotland document by scoring in 4 successive internationals.
Beattie - whose late winner in opposition to Georgia in 2007 had the Tartan Military dreaming of reaching Euro 2008 - stated: “I’m a fan of Lyndon - my son is an excellent larger fan and has Lyndon’s title on his shirt.
“Having completed it myself I understand how powerful the lone striker might be for Scotland.
“You'll want to maintain up the ball, make good and intelligent runs, when to run behind after which to carry your place to get us up the park.
“He has completed it nicely and he’s by no means allow us to down. He provides us that focus and leads the road so nicely.
“I like Che Adams as nicely however clearly he’s totally different to Dykes.
“He performs on the shoulder and likes to get in behind defenders. He misses a couple of probabilities however what striker doesn’t?
“He’s a aim menace and his strike in opposition to Denmark was sensible within the final qualifier.”
It’s not simply in assault that Clarke possesses matchwinners although.
Beattie reckons one of many unsung heroes of the final marketing campaign was Scott McTominay - a participant he says is a sufferer of his personal success very like his former worldwide staff mate Darren Fletcher.
And a participant he believes can get the ball rolling on one other momentous evening at Hampden.
He stated: “McTominay operates at a excessive stage and it's much like when Darren was a part of the squads I used to be in, you would see his high quality right away.
“I do know folks will take a look at the actual fact he performs for Manchester United and that’s a bit unfair.
“You is usually a sufferer of your individual success and I believe that was the case with Darren.
“He was phenomenal for Manchester United and he was superb for Scotland however there was an enormous expectation on him as he was enjoying for the most important membership on the planet throughout a really profitable interval for them.
“Enjoying for Manchester United after which Scotland is barely totally different. It was totally different for him to play the identical means and it is perhaps the identical for Scott.
“A few of his greatest video games have been at proper centre-back and we noticed that at Wembley in opposition to England.
“They constructed from the again, by means of the midfield due to Billy Gilmour and Callum McGregor, they have been excellent in opposition to a powerful England staff.
“I believe Scott can be an enormous participant however he would possibly want to remain at centre again for us.
“Wee Billy is somebody I can’t get sufficient of and I like watching him play.
“He all the time appears to seek out area and he's all the time trying to get entangled.
“Ryan Christie has helped get Bournemouth promoted, Ryan Jack is on a excessive after scoring a aim for Rangers within the Scottish Cup ultimate, so he can be delighted.
“John Souttar was excellent for Hearts within the ultimate, despite the fact that he was on the shedding staff.
“However Steve has power and depth and that’s a very good factor.
“We had the highs after which the lows with the Euros and the vast majority of the squad went by means of that.
“There’s nonetheless movies and there’s guys names getting shoehorned into songs for getting us to the Euros.
“They are going to be remembered for a very long time.
“Ukraine will learn about our gamers as now we have guys who're doing so nicely within the English Premier League.
“However you'll be able to’t go into any sport worrying about who you'll come up in opposition to.
“I made my debut in opposition to Italy and got here off the bench and was up in opposition to Fabio Cannavaro, one of many world’s greatest defenders.
“I didn’t fear about that, I had a job to do and I’m certain that’s what the boys can be doing on Wednesday evening.”
• Beattie was talking on the PFA Scotland exit trials occasion at Broadwood the place a showcase match can be held at 3pm on Saturday