Ex-Rangers boss Mark Warburton’s delight as Scotland cap Lyndon Dykes scores on QPR debut

Queens Park Rangers' Lyndon Dykes with manager Mark Warburton during the Sky Bet Championship match at The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, London. Photo: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire.

Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Warburton believes the club have signed a player on the up in Lyndon Dykes.

The Scotland striker scored on his debut as QPR beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, thumping home a penalty before Ilias Chair added a stoppage-time second.

Dykes was signed for £2 million from Livingston, where he impressed last season in the Premiership having initially made his mark with Queen of the South in the Championship.

“That’s what we hoped he would do,” said Warburton, the former Rangers manager.

“You look at him first at Queen of the South, then look at him for Livingston scoring goals for one of the smaller teams in Scotland, coming up against Rangers and Celtic and really troubling high-quality centre-halves.

“We spoke here about what he could bring and you saw what he can offer in both penalty boxes.

“His work ethic is outstanding, he can link up play and has an eye for goal.

“Teams became aware of him but we moved swiftly and got the deal done. I think it’s a fantastic piece of business by the club.”

The goal caps an outstanding week for Dykes who scored his first international goal on Monday in Scotland’s 2-1 win over Czech Republic.

His breakthrough for QPR came after nine minutes when former Hearts and Rangers left-back Lee Wallace lifted the ball forward and Dykes got behind Tobias Figueiredo and was then tripped by the Forest defender. The striker got up and blasted home from the penalty spot.

Warburton had suggested he would leave out Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ryan Manning unless they committed their futures to the club.

Osayi-Samuel has been linked with both Rangers and Celtic, although Neil Lennon has distanced the Parkhead club from the player.

Both players are in the final year of their contracts and have refused offers of a new deal.

In the end, winger Osayi-Samuel was selected, but Manning was left out of the matchday squad.