Lyndon Dykes could miss Livingston vs Celtic on Sunday

Add as preferred source on Google

Livingston striker Lyndon Dykes is a doubt this Sunday for the visit of Celtic.

The striker suffered an ankle injury in the 1-0 Betfred Cup defeat to Rangers last mid-week. Dykes caused the Ibrox side a host of problems with his power and pace. However, despite managing to play for the full 90 minutes, he came off with a knock.

Livingston manager Gary Holt then choose his 18-man squad to face Hamilton Accies on Saturday at New Douglas Park. And, surprisingly, Dykes didn’t manage to make it. Instead, Scott Robinson led the line and Livi lost 2-1.

That instantly makes him a doubt for Sunday’s clash with the Hoops at the Tony Macaroni Arena too. Holt hasn’t provided us with a further update on Dykes’ current predicament.

There’s no denying that Livingston lose so much going forward when the former Queen of the South man isn’t playing. He may only have four goals in 11 appearances, but it’s his all-round game that could be a handful.

Livingston created nothing without Dykes on Saturday

There was a noticeable difference in the threat Livi posed against Hamilton than what they produced vs Rangers just days previously. Without Dykes, they don’t have the direct option.

Livingston started Scott Robinson against Accies, but he offered little. Livi struggled to make the ball stick up top, and it’s clear that lack of presence was a big blow to them on the day.

You could say that Holt thought it best to leave him out considering Accies’ pitch is plastic. However, so is Livingston’s, and it could easily be the case that Holt decides to do so again.

Christopher Jullien, you would imagine, will be relishing any battle with Dykes should it happen. But if Holt has to go for either Robinson or Aymen Souda, they’ll find it tough against the powerful Frenchman.

Celtic won’t be scared of the prospect of coming up against Dykes, don’t get us wrong. Jullien probably won’t be giving it a second worth of thought.

But at the same time, it takes away so much from what Livingston are so good at. Their direct, physical style is typified and set by Dykes’ ability to battle and hold up the play. Without him, Livi will have it a lot tougher to stamp their authority on things this Sunday.