'Devastated' Dykes was close to recovery for Euros

Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes has revealed he has been left "devastated" by the ankle ligament injury that has ruled him out of the Euro 2024 finals - and how close he was to recovering in time.

The 28-year-old Queens Park Rangers player was injured during training nine days ago and told BBC Scotland that "it wasn't a crazy one but just annoying enough to miss the tournament".

"It's been really tough for me and I tried my best to make it, but I went to see the QPR medical team and they ruled me out and that was that," he said.

Dykes revealed that he and his team-mates initially thought his injury was even more serious.

"No-one was near me and it was off a cross and I sort of lunged and my studs got caught in the grass," he recalled.

"My body kept going forward and my leg just stopped, so at first we were very worried about my knee because it was a very awkward fall.

"A few of us, myself included, we heard a cracking sound, which is not pleasant."

Dykes' at first focused on his knee, but he then tried to put weight on his leg in the dressing room and "could feel the pain down near my ankle".

"It wasn't very pleasant and very unfortunate," he said. "We were worried about my knee and you would be out for a long time, so I took the positive out of it.

"I've had my wife and kids around me looking after me. It's been tough, but I've dealt with it and I just want to support the boys as much as I can."

To that end, Dykes has come to an agreement with his club that he can continue his rehabilitation while joining his Scotland team-mates at their training camp in Germany.

"Because it was so close, I want to go out with the boys and I've got that option to be with them and be around," he said while praising his international colleagues for their support in his own hour of need.

"I want to be out there and not dwelling on the injury. Maybe I can give a bit around the backroom."