Addicks and World Cup play-off’s

It wasn’t a surprise that Lyndon Dykes was called up this week for the Scotland squad, who play friendlies against Japan at Hampden Park on Saturday and then take on fellow World Cup qualifiers Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Tuesday.

What wasn’t a surprise was the lack of a call up for Conor Coventry from Ireland and Lloyd Jones from Craig Bellamy of Wales as those two nations enter a huge week in the World Cup play-offs.

Dykes has been a regular in the Scottish squad for the last three years and is, as we’d imagine, a popular player with the fans and has scored 10 goals in his 48 appearances – pretty good when a lot of those 48 caps have come from the bench.

Dykes will show up at Steve Clarke’s training camp a lot more match ready than he was when a Birmingham player, which might see him start on Saturday. Other Scotland strikers in the squad are fellow Championship players George Hirst (Ipswich), Tommy Conroy (Middlesbrough) plus Torino’s Ché Adams and the uncapped 19-year Findlay Curtis from Kilmarnock.

Nathan Jones said today he would talk to Craig Bellamy about his namesake. Bellamy overlooked the 30-year old again, and is known to like a tightly knit squad. I can’t be sure, but I don’t believe I’ve ever read that Lloyd has been in the running to be called up.

Lloyd has a Welsh father and played for Wales at U17 and U19’s, but then possibly might regret siding with his mother and choosing England at U19 and U20 level.

Nathan Jones said “I will speak to Craig about that because I know Craig very well. I think everyone would want to play for their country – I’m sure Lloyd would, but there has to be the opening and desire from Wales to want him to play. At the minute we haven’t heard anything like that.” (more on Rich Cawley’s Substack)

Lloyd has been outstanding for us this season, and whilst selfishly I am happy he is getting a rest after this weekend and not travelling on international duty, he has to be playing the best football of his career and I hope Bellamy offers him a future opportunity.

The same notion applies to Conor Coventry, but he has had a taste making his debut as a sub against Portugal in November, remembering he is also Ireland’s record U21 appearance maker. Manager Heimir Hallgrímsson said when asked that Coventry wasn’t in his squad as he has only just got back into Charlton’s side, yet he recalled Stoke’s Bosun Lawal, who hasn’t played for Stoke for 5 weeks.

Hallgrímsson also picked QPR’s Harvey Vale over Coventry, who has switched his allegiances from England. Vale has only recently become a starter for QPR.

Coventry is pretty unfortunate not the feature. Let’s hope Hallgrímsson can get Ireland through next week – if they win away at Czechia, the Irish will then host the winner of Denmark or North Macedonia. No easy task.

Jamaica name their play-off squad tomorrow. Steve McClaren stepped down leaving Rudolph Speid as caretaker. It is anticipated that Kaheim Dixon will be left out, but Amari’i Bell, Tyreece Campbell and Karoy Anderson should travel to Mexico where all the inter-confederation play-off games are being played.

Jamaica will play against New Caledonia and then if they win will meet DR Congo in Guadalajara, which is currently on a ‘reconsider travel advisory’ due to recent riots.

UPDATE: Bell, Campbell and Anderson called up by Jamaica. Dixon omitted as expected.

Travel safe, Addicks.