Dykes injury 'spooked' Scots against Gibraltar - Clarke

Steve Clarke thinks nan wounded that ruled Lyndon Dykes retired of nan Euro 2024 finals "spooked" Scotland's players arsenic nerves kicked successful during nan less-than-convincing warm-up triumph complete Gibraltar.

They ended a seven-match tally without a triumph and immoderate players sewage much-needed crippled clip successful Faro connected Monday.

But a 58-minute hold earlier Ryan Christie's opening extremity led to immoderate hostility wrong nan Estadio Algarve, eased by Che Adams' emphatic finish.

Queens Park Rangers striker Dykes sustained his wounded past week and caput coach Clarke said: "Probably what happened pinch Lyndon connected nan training transportation nan different time spooked them a small spot arsenic well.

"You person to understand. They are human, they person emotions for illustration everybody else."

Scotland, pinch Hearts' Lawrence Shankland replacing Dykes up front, missed a bid of chances successful Portugal and Clarke besides thought "it comes down a small spot to confidence".

"Shanks didn't really person immoderate clear-cut chances wherever you are reasoning 'go on, he's getting there'," he said.

"It's possibly thing we request to look astatine - his positioning, particularly connected set-plays, wherever he was possibly excessively acold retired from nan centre of goal. There are ever things you tin look at.

"What tin we do astir it? Keep practising successful training."

Clarke was talking earlier it was announced that Liverpool winger Ben Doak had joined Dykes successful leaving nan provisional squad, pinch Bristol City striker Tommy Conway called up from nan under-21s arsenic a replacement.

"Don't hide these players are nervous," Clarke added. "They person nan biggest tourney coming up for nan state adjacent week. They each person half a mind connected Germany already.

"It sounds unspeakable to opportunity that, but that's conscionable nan measurement it is. It's natural.

"They want to spell connected nan level flying to Germany for nan Euros and they are progressive successful what's going to beryllium a awesome tourney successful nan summer, truthful you person to make allowances for that.

"People won't deliberation of that. They conscionable deliberation of nan excitement, etc. But, until you are really connected nan level and connected nan measurement to Germany, location is ever a uncertainty successful nan backmost of your mind."