Exclusive: Don Goodman drops claim on Lyndon Dykes' situation at Birmingham City | OneFootball

Don Goodman has told FLW his verdict on Lyndon Dykes' role in the Birmingham City squad

Don Goodman has claimed that Lyndon Dykes could be a useful asset for Birmingham City to have amid their goal scoring woes.

The Scotland international’s future was the subject of transfer speculation right up until deadline day, but he ultimately remained at St. Andrew’s.

While it was expected that game time would be limited in Chris Davies’ side, the 29-year-old popped up with a second crucial goal of the campaign last weekend.

Dykes came on in the final stages of their clash against Swansea City, where his late goal secured a 1-0 victory over Alan Sheehan’s team.

He also scored in the final minutes of Birmingham’s 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers in August, helping seal a turnaround win in stoppage time.

Don Goodman raises Lyndon Dykes advantage

Goodman has highlighted Birmingham’s lack of goals so far this season as a sign that the team is still adapting to life in the Championship after dominating League One last year.

He believes their creativity is a problem, but that having an alternative option to play up front could prove very useful, which Dykes will provide as a proper old school number nine.

“Keeping Lyndon Dykes at Birmingham City, I don’t know whether it was inspired business or whether it was by design or because there wasn’t that much interest,” Goodman exclusively told Football League World.

“I’m not party to that information.

“What I do know is that the biggest problem Birmingham City have had this season has been scoring goals, so the winner on Saturday was just their fifth goal in six games.

“It is that creative element.

“Having an alternative type of striker, and he is that, he is a big, old fashioned number nine that wants to get on the end of crosses.”

Goodman has suggested that Dykes could become a really strong option for the team to have, even if he remains a secondary member of the side: “I think it’s a brilliant option to have from the bench.

“All the defensive numbers from Birmingham City are excellent, they only lost three games in the whole of the League One games, they lost back-to-back league games prior to that win against Swansea, so it was an important result.

“They’re just not used to it.

“It seems to be they’re still finding their feet a little bit at Championship level, but it’s been a solid start.

“10 points from six games, and as I say, having that alternative striker that can have an impact is never a bad thing.”

Birmingham have made a promising start to life back in the Championship, with their sights set on competing for a place in the Premier League.

The Blues are currently eighth in the table after the opening six fixtures, having earned 10 points from a possible 18, winning three and drawing once.

Next up for Davies’ side is a trip to the CBS Arena to face Coventry City on 27 September in a 12.30pm kick-off.

Lyndon Dykes staying could be a blessing in disguise for Birmingham

Dykes was clearly quite down the pecking order at Birmingham, but he may yet still have an important role to play in this side in the short-term.

Two goals from five substitute appearances is a great record, particularly because they both sealed late wins, earning crucial points for the team.

Without him, those two wins would have been draws and the Blues would be much further down the table with only one victory to their name.

If he can continue to make this kind of impact off the bench, then it could be a real blessing in disguise that they were unable to offload him during the summer market.