Lyndon Dykes

Lyndon Dykes is a name synonymous with grit, determination, and a fascinating cross-continental journey in professional football. Born and raised in Australia, yet with Scottish heritage running deep in his veins, he faced early career hurdles across multiple sports before committing to the beautiful game. His path to the top is a testament to perseverance, culminating in a cherished role on the international stage for Scotland. Lyndon Dykes's formative years in Australia involved excelling in diverse sports like rugby and basketball before his focus narrowed to football, heavily influenced by his Scottish family background. His club career saw a remarkable ascent through Scottish football, breaking transfer records, before making a significant impact in the challenging English Championship. Despite his Australian birthplace, Dykes chose to represent Scotland, becoming a pivotal striker and a consistent goal-scorer in crucial international fixtures, including major tournaments.

Source: Wikipedia

AI Summary

Lyndon Dykes is a name synonymous with grit, determination, and a fascinating cross-continental journey in professional football. Born and raised in Australia, yet with Scottish heritage running deep in his veins, he faced early career hurdles across multiple sports before committing to the beautiful game. His path to the top is a testament to perseverance, culminating in a cherished role on the international stage for Scotland.

A Scot Down Under

Born on the sun-drenched Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia, Lyndon John Dykes entered the world with a unique duality. His parents, hailing from Dumfries and the small Scottish town of Moniaive, instilled a deep connection to their homeland, even as Lyndon grew up amidst the vibrant Australian sporting culture.

A Multi-Sport Talent

Football wasn't his only passion in his younger years. Dykes spent time in Canberra, where he played rugby league and idolised local hero Ruben Wiki of the Canberra Raiders. He also dabbled in basketball, rugby union, and even Aussie Rules football — a true testament to his athletic versatility.

The sporting talent ran in the family too. His elder sister, Hollie Dykes, brought home a gold medal for Australia in gymnastics at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, showcasing the athletic prowess that seems to define the Dykes household. But for Lyndon, an injury ultimately scuppered a potential move to the Canberra Raiders in rugby league.

The Scottish Call

After playing youth football across various Australian clubs, and facing rejection from A-League sides like Brisbane Roar, Dykes seized an opportunity to play for Queen of the South's Under-20s team in Scotland. He was visiting relatives in Dumfries, his parents' hometown, after an Australian schoolboys tour to England. It was a pivotal moment, scoring an impressive 22 goals in just 14 matches, before returning to Australia and even working in a factory for a sportswear company.

Breakthrough in Dumfries

That impressive stint wasn't forgotten. In June 2016, Dykes officially returned to Scotland, signing his first senior contract with Queen of the South. His debut came shortly after, a 2-0 League Cup victory, and his first senior goal followed a month later against Hibernian, marking the true beginning of his professional journey.

He spent three impactful years with the 'Doonhamers', playing over 100 league matches. Often deployed as a dynamic foil for prolific striker Stephen Dobbie, Dykes's powerful presence and work rate made him an indispensable part of the team, even when occasionally played on the wings.

Ascent in the Premiership

His performances caught the eye of Livingston, a Scottish Premiership club, and he signed a two-year deal in January 2019, though he remained at Queen of the South until the end of that season. At Livingston, Dykes was entrusted with the central striker role — a responsibility he embraced fully.

He scored on his Livingston debut in a League Cup match against Falkirk. The following season saw him truly hit his stride, scoring against giants like Celtic and, most notably, bagging a sensational hat-trick against Ross County in a dominant 4-0 win – the first Livingston player to achieve this feat in the top flight.

This prolific form didn't go unnoticed. In August 2020, Championship club Queens Park Rangers came calling. Dykes's transfer fee shattered Livingston's club record, demonstrating his significant value and rapid rise through the ranks of Scottish football.

Making Waves in England

Dykes signed a four-year deal with Queens Park Rangers for a reported £2 million. He wasted no time in making an impression, scoring a penalty on his competitive debut against Nottingham Forest. By April 2021, his six goals in six games, including a brace against Sheffield Wednesday, earned him the club's Player of the Month award.

He finished his first season at QPR as the club's top scorer with 12 goals and 5 assists, quickly establishing himself as a vital asset. Though his time at QPR wasn't without its challenges, including an eight-day hospital stay for pneumonia in January 2023, he bounced back, signing a new three-year contract in June 2023.

The Heart Chooses Scotland

With his dual heritage, Dykes had the unique choice of representing either Australia or Scotland internationally. Both nations' managers, René Meulensteen for Australia and Steve Clarke for Scotland, personally scouted him. Dykes ultimately decided with his 'heart and gut' — choosing the land of his parents.

His international debut for Scotland came in September 2020, and just days later, he netted his first goal against the Czech Republic. A crucial winner against Slovakia followed, cementing his place in the national squad and endearing him to the Tartan Army.

A Striker for the Nation

Dykes became Scotland's first-choice striker alongside Ché Adams and was instrumental in their UEFA Euro 2020 campaign, playing significant minutes against the Czech Republic, England, and Croatia. His physical style and ability to hold up the ball proved invaluable.

The goal-scoring continued into the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. He scored the only goals in consecutive 1-0 victories against Moldova and Austria. Then, in a remarkable run, he scored in four consecutive international matches — a feat not achieved by a Scotland player since Colin Stein in 1969!

In the UEFA Nations League, he came off the bench to score a brace against Ukraine, securing a dominant 3-0 win. His contributions continued through the Euro 2024 qualifiers, notably scoring an equaliser and assisting the winning goal against Norway. Unfortunately, an ankle injury sustained in training forced his withdrawal from the final Euro 2024 squad.

New Chapters

After four seasons with Queens Park Rangers, Dykes embarked on new challenges. In August 2024, he signed a three-year deal with League One club Birmingham City. This was followed by a move to Championship side Charlton Athletic in January 2026, where he joined on a deal for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.

Career Statistics

Club Performance

Throughout his career, Lyndon Dykes has demonstrated remarkable consistency and a keen eye for goal across various leagues and competitions. His journey through Scottish and English clubs reflects a steady climb and adaptation to higher levels of competition.

Club	Season	League	National cup	League cup	Other	Total
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Queen of the South	2016–17	Scottish Championship	30	2	1	0	6	1	3	1	40	4
Queen of the South	2017–18	Scottish Championship	34	7	3	0	4	0	3	1	44	8
Queen of the South	2018–19	Scottish Championship	36	2	4	1	5	3	7	4	52	10
Total		100	11	8	1	15	4	13	6	136	22
Livingston	2019–20	Scottish Premiership	25	9	2	1	6	2	—	33	12
Livingston	2020–21	Scottish Premiership	3	2	—	—	—	3	2
Total		28	11	2	1	6	2	—	36	14
Queens Park Rangers	2020–21	Championship	42	12	1	0	0	0	—	43	12
Queens Park Rangers	2021–22	Championship	33	8	2	1	2	0	—	37	9
Queens Park Rangers	2022–23	Championship	39	8	1	0	0	0	—	40	8
Queens Park Rangers	2023–24	Championship	41	6	1	1	1	0	—	43	7
Queens Park Rangers	2024–25	Championship	1	1	—	1	0	—	2	1
Total		156	35	5	2	4	0	—	165	37
Birmingham City	2024–25	League One	25	1	3	2	—	4	2	32	5
Birmingham City	2025–26	Championship	21	2	0	0	2	0	—	23	2
Total		46	3	3	2	2	0	4	2	55	7
Charlton Athletic	2025–26	Championship	13	2	—	—	—	13	2
Career total		343	62	18	6	27	6	17	8	405	82

International Performance

For Scotland, Dykes has been a consistent presence and a reliable source of goals, particularly in crucial qualification matches and international tournaments. His commitment to the national team has made him a fan favourite.

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Scotland	2020	7	2
Scotland	2021	13	4
Scotland	2022	6	2
Scotland	2023	9	1
Scotland	2024	7	0
Scotland	2025	6	1
Scotland	2026	2	0
Total	50	10

International Goals

These are the significant moments when Lyndon Dykes found the back of the net for Scotland, contributing to important results in Nations League, World Cup, and Euro qualification campaigns.

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	7 September 2020	Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czech Republic	Czech Republic	1–1	2–1	2020–21 UEFA Nations League B
2	11 October 2020	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Slovakia	1–0	1–0	2020–21 UEFA Nations League B
3	4 September 2021	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Moldova	1–0	1–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
4	7 September 2021	Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna, Austria	Austria	1–0	1–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
5	9 October 2021	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Israel	2–2	3–2	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
6	12 October 2021	Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands	Faroe Islands	1–0	1–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
7	21 September 2022	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Ukraine	2–0	3–0	2022–23 UEFA Nations League B
8	21 September 2022	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Ukraine	3–0	3–0	2022–23 UEFA Nations League B
9	17 June 2023	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway	Norway	1–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
10	9 October 2025	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Greece	3–1	3–1	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

EFL League One: 2024–25

Article

Lyndon Dykes

Lyndon John Dykes (born 7 October 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL Championship club Charlton Athletic. Born and raised in Australia to Scottish parents, he plays for the Scotland national team.

Dykes previously played for Mudgeeraba, Merrimac, Redlands United and Surfers Paradise Apollo in Australia, for Queen of the South and Livingston in Scotland, and spent four years with English club Queens Park Rangers.

Personal life

Lyndon Dykes

Dykes was born on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. He moved to Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, playing rugby league as a youth. As a child, Dykes had a season pass to the Canberra Raiders and idolised captain Ruben Wiki at the time. In his youth, Dykes also played basketball, rugby union and Aussie Rules football. After returning to Australia from a stint with Queen of the South Under-20s team, Dykes worked in a factory for sports company BLK.

Dykes said of his background, "My parents are Scottish. They are from Dumfries. My dad is from just outside Dumfries, a small town called Moniaive." His elder sister Hollie was a gold medal-winning gymnast for Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Dykes' son was born in Scotland.

Dykes was coached by caretaker Queen of the South manager Jim Thomson. His wife Victoria was previously married to Thomson.

Club career

Early career

Dykes spent part of his younger years living and playing rugby league in Canberra where his family settled. Dykes attracted the interest of the Canberra Raiders after helping Gungahlin Bulls to a cup final win. The move never came about as Dykes suffered an injury and his family moved back to the Gold Coast.

Dykes played youth football for Mudgeeraba before joining Merrimac. He then played in the 2015 National Premier Leagues Queensland with Redlands United and joined Gold Coast City FC the year after but soon departed to play that season for Surfers Paradise Apollo SC for one month. Dykes was rejected by A-League sides such as Brisbane Roar when playing football in Australia.

Queen of the South

Dykes toured England with the Australian schoolboys, after which he visited relatives in Dumfries, the home town of his parents. He then returned to Dumfries to play for the Queen of the South Under-20s team. He scored 22 goals in 14 competitive matches at this level before returning to Australia in January 2015.

On 7 June 2016, Dykes returned to Scotland and signed for Queen of the South, who had Gavin Skelton as their manager at that time. Dykes' senior competitive debut was representing Queen's when aged 20 in a 2–0 Scottish League Cup win versus Queen's Park at the Excelsior Stadium on 16 July. His first senior goal was on 9 August in the Queen's 3–1 League Cup win over Hibernian.

On 7 December 2017, Dykes signed an extension to his contract that kept him at the club until 31 May 2019. In three years in Dumfries, he played in 86 league matches, scoring 10 league goals and in 31 cup matches scoring nine cup goals for the Doonhamers. His best position for the Doonhamers was as a foil for Queens main striker Stephen Dobbie, especially when Dobbie scored 43 goals in the 2018–19 season, although he was also played on the wings.

Livingston

On 30 January 2019, Dykes secured a two-year contract to join Livingston, but the Doonhamers reached an agreement with the West Lothian club for him to stay at Palmerston Park until the end of the 2018–19 season. Dykes was utilised as a central striker at the Lions. He scored on his senior competitive debut for the Lions in a 1–1 League Cup draw at Falkirk on 13 July. On 12 September, he extended his contract with the Lions for an additional season until May 2022. On 6 October, he scored the second goal in the 2–0 home league win versus Celtic. On 21 December, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win versus Ross County, the first time a Livingston player had done so in the top flight.

On 16 August 2020, Livingston announced that a bid has been accepted from a Championship club for Dykes. Three days later, it was announced that he joined Queens Park Rangers. Dykes' transfer fee broke Livingston's club record previously held by the sale of David Fernandez to Celtic in 2002. Queen of the South are due a six-figure fee as part of the deal, as a sell-on clause was included when Dykes was sold to Livingston, with the figure likely to surpass the club's £250,000 record fee received when Andy Thomson moved to Southend United in 1994.

Queens Park Rangers

On 19 August 2020, Dykes signed a four-year deal for English club Queens Park Rangers for a reported fee of £2m. On 12 September, Dykes scored on his competitive debut for the club, scoring a penalty in the 54th minute, in a 2–0 win versus Nottingham Forest. In April 2021, Dykes was named the club's Player of the Month after scoring six goals in six games most notably scoring a brace in a 4–1 win over Sheffield Wednesday on 10 April. Dykes had finished the season as QPR's top scorer with 12 goals and 5 assists.

On 16 October 2021, Dykes scored in the West London derby in Queens Park Rangers' 4–1 loss against Fulham in the Championship.

In January 2023, Dykes was admitted to hospital with the club said to be "closely monitoring" the striker. He spent eight days in hospital having been diagnosed with pneumonia following a CT scan on his lungs.

On 26 June 2023, Dykes signed a new three-year contract with the club.

Birmingham City

Dykes signed for League One club Birmingham City on a three-year contract on 28 August 2024; the fee was undisclosed.

Charlton Athletic

On 15 January 2026, Dykes joined Championship club Charlton Athletic on a deal for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.

International career

Lyndon Dykes

Dykes played for Australia schoolboys prior to joining Queen of the South. He was eligible to represent either Australia (where he was born) or Scotland.

When playing with Livingston, Australia's assistant manager Rene Meulensteen came to watch Dykes play against Celtic in October 2019. The same week, Scotland manager Steve Clarke also contacted Dykes, who "went with my heart and my gut" and chose Scotland. On 25 August 2020, Dykes was named in the Scotland squad for the first time for UEFA Nations League matches versus Israel and the Czech Republic. He made his international debut in a 1–1 draw with Israel on 4 September and then scored his first goal for Scotland a few days later in a 2–1 victory over the Czech Republic. On 11 October, Dykes scored the winner in a Nations League match against Slovakia which ended 1–0 after steering home Stephen O'Donnell's low cross.

On 19 May 2021, Dykes was named in Scotland's UEFA Euro 2020 squad after becoming the nation's first choice striker alongside Che Adams. On 14 June, he played 79 minutes of Scotland's opening game which resulted in a 2–0 defeat to the Czech Republic. On 18 June, he played the full 90 minutes in the fixture against England at Wembley Stadium which ended in a 0–0 draw. On 22 June, he started in a 3–1 defeat to Croatia which ended Scotland's Euros campaign.

On 4 September 2021, Dykes scored in the only goal against Moldova in a 2022 World Cup qualifier. Three days later he scored a 30th-minute penalty in another 1–0 win for Scotland, this time away to Austria in the same competition. The following month, Dykes scored in narrow wins over Israel and the Faroe Islands, becoming the first Scotland player to score in four consecutive matches since Colin Stein in 1969.

In a UEFA Nations League match against Ukraine on 21 September 2022, Dykes came off the bench in the 77th minute to score a brace, in the 80th and 87th minutes respectively, to secure a 3–0 win for Scotland.

Dykes helped Scotland qualify for UEFA Euro 2024, scoring the equaliser and providing the assist for the winning goal in a 2–1 away win against Norway in June 2023. He was selected in a 28-man provisional squad for the Euro 2024 finals, but he had to withdraw prior to the tournament after suffering an ankle injury in training.

Career statistics

Club

<table><thead><tr><th>Club</th><th>Season</th><th>League</th><th>National cup</th><th>League cup</th><th>Other</th><th>Total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Division</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td><td>Apps</td><td>Goals</td></tr><tr><td>Queen of the South</td><td>2016–17</td><td>Scottish Championship</td><td>30</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>40</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>2017–18</td><td>Scottish Championship</td><td>34</td><td>7</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>44</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>2018–19</td><td>Scottish Championship</td><td>36</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>7</td><td>4</td><td>52</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>100</td><td>11</td><td>8</td><td>1</td><td>15</td><td>4</td><td>13</td><td>6</td><td>136</td><td>22</td></tr><tr><td>Livingston</td><td>2019–20</td><td>Scottish Premiership</td><td>25</td><td>9</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>—</td><td>33</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>2020–21</td><td>Scottish Premiership</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>3</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>28</td><td>11</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>—</td><td>36</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>Queens Park Rangers</td><td>2020–21</td><td>Championship</td><td>42</td><td>12</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>43</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>2021–22</td><td>Championship</td><td>33</td><td>8</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>37</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>2022–23</td><td>Championship</td><td>39</td><td>8</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>40</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td>Championship</td><td>41</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>43</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>2024–25</td><td>Championship</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>—</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>2</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>156</td><td>35</td><td>5</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>165</td><td>37</td></tr><tr><td>Birmingham City</td><td>2024–25</td><td>League One</td><td>25</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>—</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>32</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>2025–26</td><td>Championship</td><td>21</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>—</td><td>23</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>46</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>55</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Charlton Athletic</td><td>2025–26</td><td>Championship</td><td>13</td><td>2</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>13</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Career total</td><td>343</td><td>62</td><td>18</td><td>6</td><td>27</td><td>6</td><td>17</td><td>8</td><td>405</td><td>82</td></tr></tbody></table>

International

<table><thead><tr><th>National team</th><th>Year</th><th>Apps</th><th>Goals</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Scotland</td><td>2020</td><td>7</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>13</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>6</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>9</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>7</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>6</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>2</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>50</td><td>10</td></tr></tbody></table>

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Dykes goal.

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Date</th><th>Venue</th><th>Opponent</th><th>Score</th><th>Result</th><th>Competition</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>7 September 2020</td><td>Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czech Republic</td><td> Czech Republic</td><td>1–1</td><td>2–1</td><td>2020–21 UEFA Nations League B</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>11 October 2020</td><td>Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland</td><td> Slovakia</td><td>1–0</td><td>1–0</td><td>2020–21 UEFA Nations League B</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>4 September 2021</td><td>Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland</td><td> Moldova</td><td>1–0</td><td>1–0</td><td>2022 FIFA World Cup qualification</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>7 September 2021</td><td>Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna, Austria</td><td> Austria</td><td>1–0</td><td>1–0</td><td>2022 FIFA World Cup qualification</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>9 October 2021</td><td>Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland</td><td> Israel</td><td>2–2</td><td>3–2</td><td>2022 FIFA World Cup qualification</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>12 October 2021</td><td>Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands</td><td> Faroe Islands</td><td>1–0</td><td>1–0</td><td>2022 FIFA World Cup qualification</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>21 September 2022</td><td>Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland</td><td> Ukraine</td><td>2–0</td><td>3–0</td><td>2022–23 UEFA Nations League B</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>3–0</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>17 June 2023</td><td>Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway</td><td> Norway</td><td>1–1</td><td>2–1</td><td>UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>9 October 2025</td><td>Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland</td><td> Greece</td><td>3–1</td><td>3–1</td><td>2026 FIFA World Cup qualification</td></tr></tbody></table>

Honours

Lyndon Dykes

• EFL League One: 2024–25