JIM GOODWIN has backed St Mirren’s star striker Eamonn Brophy to become Scotland’s replacement for Lyndon Dykes.

The big Aussie will be suspended for November’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Moldova, after picking up too many yellow cards.

It’s a real blow for Steve Clarke and the national squad after the on-form QPR man managed to bag four goals in as many games for his country.

Scotland need to avoid defeat in the game to secure a World Cup play-off spot next year – which ideally they want to be seeded in, so a win in Moldova is desired.

Kevin Nisbet has been in the squad this year after his impressive form at Hibs over the past 18-months.

And with no other glaring replacement really on offer to Clarke, Buddies boss Goodwin sees no reason why Brophy wouldn’t be in the equation to replace Dykes.

His man had bagged two in the last four games for the Paisley side, and Goodwin is backing his man to continue his form into the next international break, giving the 25-year-odl every chance of a call-up.

He said: “Eamonn Brophy is on fire right now. I had a laugh and a joke with him, telling him he could be on six or seven goals with the chances he has had and the positions he finds himself in. He doesn’t need a lot of encouragement to get shots off.

“If you were to look at the stats on the amount of shots players get away I think he’d be right up there in the top four or five in the league.

“He tends to work the goalkeeper more often than not which is something we encourage.

“We don’t want them to be afraid to miss chances. Not many could have done what he did there, generating that sort of power in his left foot and smashing it into the roof of the net.

“There’s still more to come from him but he’s fitter and sharper now than he’s been in the last four years.

“That’s no disrespect to anyone at Kilmarnock either. He had a lot of niggles and little injuries in the last couple of years in particular.

“He now seems to be fully over that touch wood. We’ve got a great medical team and sports science team.

“Eamonn is starting to take things on board and he understands the importance of being professional and staying fit. That’s why he’s starting to get into the positions he is now.

“If Eamonn can go and get himself another two or three goals before the squad gets announced.

“Lyndon Dykes is out suspended and there aren’t a great deal of months between Eamonn and Kevin Nisbet.

“I know Steve Clarke keeps an eye on our game which is great and he’s a brave manager as well.

“He’s proven that with Motherwell players in the past, Zander Clark was involved from St Johnstone. He’s not afraid to pick players from clubs like our own.

“If Eamonn is catching the eye, he’s had him before and there’s no reason why Steve can’t consider him again in the future.

“He’s still only 25 believe it or not. Some people look at Broph and think he’s 29 or 30.

“He’s still just 25 and his best years are still ahead of him. Hopefully we’ll get the best out of him this season and we’ll see where that takes us.”

St Mirren take on Rangers on Sunday as they will aim to extend their unbeaten run to seven games.

Even better still, should the Buddies claim all three points, it will add another win to the form column, making it four-in-a-row.

Goodwin says his players are in a good place. There are various players who will be disappointed to sit out the match against the champions.

But the Irishman doesn’t believe in changing the team for the sake of it – and he’s excited about what he’s sure will be their biggest test of the season so far.

He said: “It’s great for us to be on the kind of run that we are on. Unbeaten in six and won the last three. My message to the players is let’s maintain that unbeaten run.

“If that’s taking a draw, so be it, but we are going into the game in a positive mindset and I do believe we have players in the group who can cause Rangers problems defensively.

“We have to be aware of the threat they carry. They are a good footballing team with good pace and if we are not concentrating and switched on, we know they can cause us problems.

“In my time as a player, to win two games back-to-back was always a challenge and something I can’t remember doing a great deal.

“For us to win three has been a good achievement for the group and has given confidence. I have to say all of those games won, each could have gone the other way.

“That’s how competitive the league is. Ross County are still searching for a first league win, but if Malky Mackay approaches games the way he did the last half an hour against us, I don’t think they’ll have to wait too much longer as they were excellent in the second half, in particular.

“It’s a good achievement from the group because we know how difficult this league is and it’s not easy games we managed to win.

“Livingston is away is tough at any given time. Aberdeen at home, top opposition and big club. Then away again at Ross County.

“Now we’re at home against one of the best teams in the league, we’re a form team in the league and we have to give them the respect they deserve.

“If we can take a positive result from the game, I’ll be delighted. If we manage to grab all three points, it would be incredible for everyone.”