Lyndon Dykes says helping Scotland to their first World Cup since 1998 would ease the pain of being forced to miss last year’s European Championship.
Scotland can secure automatic qualification for next summer’s finals if they take at least a point against Greece in Piraeus on Saturday and then beat Denmark at Hampden Park three days later.
Steve Clarke’s side are at least assured of a play-off place after an unbeaten run in Group C.
The Birmingham City striker did not play in Germany following an incident during their pre-tournament training camp.
“I want to play as many games for Scotland as possible. I want to do as many tournaments as possible and obviously it was a big blow to miss out on the EC,” said Dykes.
“As it happened, it really hurt a lot.
“I had to just do my best to get over the lead because of course it wasn’t like the first EC when we had the play-offs in Serbia.
“You don’t know what’s around the corner. Hopefully I can play my part for this team to get to the World Cup and be in the squad for the World Cup if we make it.”
‘Highlight of your career’
Scotland’s last World Cup appearance was in 1998
There were only two Dykes when Scotland last made it to a World Cup, while some of the current squad were not even born.
The 30-year-old says it would be a dream to play in North America next summer.
“Personally, I never thought I would get the opportunity to play at a World Cup.
“It’s such a great thing. I think what we’ve been through in the last few years has had the European Championship burden and we did that as a team.
“We got the European Championship and now the next one is a World Cup and everyone wants that, all the players, the whole staff and the whole nation.
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Scott Bain is in contention to earn his first Scotland cap for over six years after he feared his stint at Celtic for too long had ruined his chance of another call-up
“We deserve it as a team for what we have shown over the past few years.
“But just saying that won’t make it easy for you to get there.
“It’s going to be two tough games. We have to make sure we focus on the first one because we have to make sure we do what we have to do in the first game.
“Everybody wants to play in a World Cup because it’s just the pinnacle of your career.”
‘We get things done’
Dykes (L) scored his 10th Scotland goal in the 3-1 win against Greece last month
Scotland have beaten Belarus twice, won over Greece at Hampden and held Denmark to a goalless draw away from home in this qualifying campaign.
They are level with Denmark on 10 points and out of reach of Greece as they sit seven points behind with just two games remaining.
“I wouldn’t say there’s any pressure at the moment. We’ve done great in these group games, we’ve got automatic play-offs,” added the 46-cap forward.
“When the time comes I’m sure the boys and the whole squad will have some nerves going into the games because we know how big these games are.
“The squad we’ve got, the players we’ve got, they’ve played in massive games, every single one of them. Pressure comes with this sport.
Dykes was part of the squad that secured qualification for European Championship 2020
“Has previously been to Serbia [play-off] for the first EC, which seems like a long time ago now, the pressure on that game was massive and we got through it as a team.
“Ever since that situation and that moment, we’ve just grown from there. We know we can always get through things as a team and together. Even though the squad has changed a little bit from there, we still have some players.
“It’s also the main core of the whole of Scotland and the Scottish nation, because when we’re all together and we’re all aligned, we get things done.”
Scotland squad
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Craig Gordon (Hearts), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
Defenders: Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon Doak (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Connor Barron (Rangers), Andy Irving (West Ham).
Extenders: Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Birmingham), George Hirst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts).
Scotland’s final World Cup qualifier
- Greece (A) – 15 November
- Denmark (H) – 18 November