Celtic may well be left ruing their failure to sign Scotland hero Lyndon Dykes just over two years ago, with the Queens Park Rangers striker having showcased his quality since then after starring for both club and country.

The Australian-born gem had reportedly been a target for the Hoops - as well as Old Firm foes Rangers - back in the summer of 2020, having scored 12 goals and laid on ten assists during a sparkling 2019/20 campaign for fellow Scottish Premiership side Livingston.

The imposing forward was subsequently snapped up for a bargain fee of just £2m by his current side in that window, with pundit Alex McLeish suggesting that he was "surprised" that the Glasgow side - then managed by Neil Lennon - had failed to make a move.

That decision not to pursue a deal has seemingly come back to bite the Scottish giants, particularly with the club having instead opted to fork out around £5m to sign Albian Ajeti that same summer, with the Switzerland international having only recently been moved to Sturm Graz on loan after netting just nine goals during his time at Parkhead.

As for Dykes, the impressive marksman has since been "on fire" - in the words of reporter Alan Biggs - having gone on to score 14 goals and provide five assists in his debut campaign at Loftus Road.

The £2.7m-rated man now has 30 goal involvements in 90 games for the R's to date, although it is his form at international level that has particularly caught the eye, with eight goals in just 24 games at a rate of one every three matches.

The former Queen of the South man bolstered that tally with a brilliant double in the recent win over Ukraine, twice heading home from late on to help secure a stunning victory for Steve Clarke's side at Hampden Park.

As the aforementioned McLeish suggested, the QPR striker has proven an "amazing find" for his national team coach in recent times, with it still something of a headscratcher that Lennon and co opted against forking out what was a relatively modest fee in the past.

That view is echoed by pundit Darren Jackson who also noted his astonishment that neither Glasgow side managed to complete the signing, while also lauding the 6 foot 2 menace as more than "just a big striker", due to his mobility and speed.

A player who has already proven his credentials in the Scottish Premiership - and on the international stage - those at Celtic Park will likely be ruing their decision not to bring Dykes to the club.