QUEENS PARK RANGERS manager Mark Warburton has called for Steve Clarke to use his "common sense" after Lyndon Dykes started three games in six days for Scotland over the international break.
Speaking to STV, the former Rangers boss said the 25-year-old returned to Loftus Road "highly fatigued" - and warned that with a heavy run of games coming up at club level, the striker's fitness could take a hit.
Warburton said: “I’ve got to be honest, to see one of our players go away and start every game when you’ve got the likes of Lawrence Shankland, Callum Paterson, Oli McBurnie and Oli Burke etc, it was difficult for us.
“I’m delighted for Lyndon and how well he’s doing, and for Steve Clarke and the team but we’ve got to be very careful. We’re getting back a player who has played all these minutes and we now go into seven games in 21 days, then there’s another international break. Then we have nine games in 28 days.
“So it can work both ways. This time we are receiving back a highly fatigued player. If he plays every game in the next three weeks then where does that leave him for the next international games?
“This demands communication and hopefully common sense can prevail. You guys have to win games of football but so do we.
“I think he can have a major impact and give you that presence that you need but I’m also very wary that he’s played five times for you and I’m hearing people say he’ll be the number nine for years to come.
“I don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on him. He’s done very, very well and clearly has great pride in playing for Scotland.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel