International battle for QPR new boy

QPR have signed Livingston striker Lyndon Dykes on a four-year contract.

The west London club have not disclosed the fee for the Australian-born frontman, who is also eligible to play for Scotland.

Dykes top-scored for the SPL Premiership side last season, with 12 goals in 33 appearances.

Rangers boss Mark Warburton has given his new signing the number nine squad number.

“He is a player who can score  goals and he showed his quality against Rangers and Celtic last season,” said Warburton.

“He is a hard worker, a good finisher and I think he is going to go on to become a good international for Scotland.

“He is still young and raw. There is a lot of development potential in him.

“A lot of good work has been done and he has worked very hard in Scotland, and we hope very much that we can help him move to the next level.”

Dykes feels he is suited to the physicality of the Championship.

“That’s not a worry for me,” he said. “I’m willing to get in there and rough people up.”

Dykes looks set to be called up by Scotland manager Steve Clarke for next month’s Nations League games against Israel and Czech Republic. Playing in either of those fixtures would end the Socceroos’ hopes of him representing them.

Australia boss Graham Arnold said: “If Scotland are pressuring him and then play him once and he never plays again, well I couldn’t live with myself doing that to the kid.

“I’m not going to be someone who for the sake of it caps him and says ‘now he plays for Australia’. He doesn’t need pressure from me.

“It’s up to him and his family to make that choice. We’ve had great discussions about what I believe to be best but it’s not about what I believe – it’s about what the kid believes.

“We had him pencilled in for the March qualifiers but they were called off. And that’s probably made the decision even harder for him than before.”