His son has ‘Dykes 9’ on the back of his shirt and Craig Beattie has no doubt the QPR hitman has earned the label of Scotland’s first choice striker.
But it’s another powerhouse forward, Ross Stewart, who the former Celtic and Scotland frontman reckons is primed to make a name for himself on the international scene.
Beattie knows what it’s like to carry the weight of goal expectation for Scotland. And he insists Steve Clarke is now blessed with excellent options in the danger zone after years of not knowing where the next strike was coming from.
Dykes, he expects, will lead the line for the crunch World Cup play-off semi final against Ukraine at Hampden next Wednesday. Che Adams is likely to play just off him.
But the presence on the bench of towering Sunderland striker Stewart, fresh off a 26-goal season that helped the Black Cats win promotion to the Championship via the play-offs, could prove vital in surprising the Ukrainians.
Beattie said: “I’m a big fan of Ross Stewart and have been for a long time.
“I was doing some commentary for BBC at the Challenge Cup final a few years ago between Ross County and Connah’s Quay Nomads.
“Ross was playing and he was phenomenal in that cup run. I remember going onto Radio Clyde and I was singing his praises.
“The host Gordon Duncan thought because I was talking about him so much that we were related or something!
“He’s went to Sunderland and he is on a high after scoring in the final to get them into the Championship.
“He's tall, strong, quick, good with the ball at his feet and a good finisher, what more can you ask?
“People will pay big money for someone with those attributes.
“He’s a threat there’s no doubt about it and he’s a different option and someone the Ukraine players probably won’t come up against too often.
“I think Lyndon has stepped up when we need him in the qualifying campaign and scored some vital goals to get us this far.
“For me he has earned the number nine shirt but Ross will be putting him under pressure.
“It will be a big step from League One to international football but I believe he can do it.
“All the strikers are at a good age and I think if they keep progressing then we could have good competition up front for the next few years.”
Right now though the shirt belongs to Dykes who last year matched a 52-year Scotland record by scoring in four successive internationals.
Beattie - whose late winner against Georgia in 2007 had the Tartan Army dreaming of reaching Euro 2008 - said: “I’m a fan of Lyndon - my son is an even bigger fan and has Lyndon’s name on his shirt.
“Having done it myself I know how tough the lone striker can be for Scotland.
“You need to hold up the ball, make good and clever runs, when to run behind and then to hold your position to get us up the park.
“He has done it well and he’s never let us down. He gives us that focal point and leads the line so well.
“I like Che Adams as well but obviously he’s different to Dykes.
“He plays on the shoulder and likes to get in behind defenders. He misses a few chances but what striker doesn’t?
“He’s a goal threat and his strike against Denmark was brilliant in the last qualifier.”
It’s not just in attack that Clarke possesses matchwinners though.
Beattie reckons one of the unsung heroes of the last campaign was Scott McTominay - a player he says is a victim of his own success much like his former international team mate Darren Fletcher.
And a player he believes can get the ball rolling on another momentous night at Hampden.
He said: “McTominay operates at a high level and it is similar to when Darren was part of the squads I was in, you could see his quality straight away.
“I know people will look at the fact he plays for Manchester United and that’s a bit unfair.
“You can be a victim of your own success and I think that was the case with Darren.
“He was phenomenal for Manchester United and he was very good for Scotland but there was a huge expectation on him as he was playing for the biggest club in the world during a very successful period for them.
“Playing for Manchester United and then Scotland is slightly different. It was different for him to play the same way and it might be the same for Scott.
“Some of his best games have been at right centre-back and we saw that at Wembley against England.
“They built from the back, through the midfield thanks to Billy Gilmour and Callum McGregor, they were superb against a strong England team.
“I think Scott will be a huge player but he might need to stay at centre back for us.
“Wee Billy is someone I can’t get enough of and I love watching him play.
“He always seems to find space and he is always looking to get involved.
“Ryan Christie has helped get Bournemouth promoted, Ryan Jack is on a high after scoring a goal for Rangers in the Scottish Cup final, so he will be delighted.
“John Souttar was superb for Hearts in the final, even though he was on the losing team.
“But Steve has strength and depth and that’s a good thing.
“We had the highs and then the lows with the Euros and the majority of the squad went through that.
“There’s still videos and there’s guys names getting shoehorned into songs for getting us to the Euros.
“They will be remembered for a long time.
“Ukraine will know about our players as we have guys who are doing so well in the English Premier League.
“But you can’t go into any game worrying about who you will come up against.
“I made my debut against Italy and came off the bench and was up against Fabio Cannavaro, one of the world’s best defenders.
“I didn’t worry about that, I had a job to do and I’m sure that’s what the boys will be doing on Wednesday night.”
• Beattie was speaking at the PFA Scotland exit trials event at Broadwood where a showcase match will be held at 3pm on Saturday
