Is Shankland the Striker...

Steven Naismith vividly recalls a match in Amsterdam prior to the last Euros, during which Lawrence Shankland played solo up front, as part of a friendly intended to determine his readiness for the upcoming match against Germany.

At that time, Naismith was serving as Shankland’s manager at Hearts, but now he holds the role of assistant to Steve Clarke.

In mid-March 2024, Shankland was enjoying a stellar season at Tynecastle, having netted 28 goals, including an impressive streak of 15 goals in 15 matches. He was in top form and set to play against the Netherlands.

“At one point, the ball came to him from about 20 yards out, and instead of taking the shot, he attempted to reverse it to Scott McTominay,” shares Naismith.

“Watching that moment made it clear to me that he was still adjusting to the international level. When you enter that environment, your focus shifts to fitting in. It felt like Shankland was trying to fit in at that moment.”

“I texted him afterward and expressed confusion about why he chose to pass to McTominay when I would prefer him taking the shot himself. Then I thought it through; perhaps he was unsure of his place in that situation.”

“I advised him to remember what brought him to this point. ‘You’re in the starting lineup because the manager trusts you to seize these opportunities. Don’t let them slip by.’

“Now? He’s a different player. He’s confident and feels like he belongs. That’s why he’s in the squad – for critical moments like this. His growth has been immense; he’s truly elevated his game.”

‘He was clearly underperforming’

The Scotland squad boasts many intriguing narratives, and Shankland’s rapid rise to a pivotal role is among the most notable.

In quieter moments, one can imagine Shankland and Andy Robertson reminiscing about their shared time at Queen’s Park, with memories of their travels to Elgin, Berwick, Annan, and Montrose.

Thirteen years prior, they were teammates in the fourth tier of Scottish football, competing in the playoffs for a chance to move up. Unfortunately, they lost both legs to Peterhead, 1-0 at home and 3-1 away (crowd attendance: 954).

From Balmoor—Peterhead’s home ground—to the World Cup in Boston.

Robertson’s path to the World Cup has included numerous significant moments on grand stages, particularly with Liverpool over the years. Meanwhile, Shankland is just beginning to establish himself as a key player on the international front.

His outstanding form this season has prompted Clarke to shift his strategy from a single forward to a duo, partnering Shankland with Che Adams in what has proved to be a powerful partnership.

Shankland recorded an impressive 24 goals throughout the previous season, with 10 goals in his last 12 matches, eight in the last nine, and six in his most recent six games.

Since last August, he has amassed 173 minutes on the international stage, scoring four goals—an exceptional rate of one goal every 43 minutes, regardless of competition.

His journey to Boston has been lengthy—passing through clubs like Queen’s Park, Dunfermline, Aberdeen, St Mirren, and Morton, before making a significant move to Ayr United in the summer of 2017, where his career began to take off.

During this time, he developed a bond with Ian McCall, the Ayr manager who became a mentor and friend.

“Our initial relationship was rocky,” McCall recounts. “He left me waiting for 45 minutes at Lochinch training ground with the loan paperwork to bring him from Aberdeen to Ayr.”

“I only found out he was signing with Morton after getting a call from Owen Coyle, a close friend of Lawrence’s dad. I was understandably frustrated—it was a one-time letdown.”

Yet, McCall persisted and eventually convinced Shankland to join Ayr.

Shankland scored in nine out of his first ten games for the club, then competing in League One, finishing the season with 29 goals in 33 appearances, helping them to promotion. He followed that with an impressive 34 goals in 41 games in the Championship.

“It became evident fairly quickly that he was playing well below his capabilities,” McCall reflected. “He could score all types of goals: tap-ins, headers, shots with both feet, curvers, long-range drives, and chips—the occasional 50-yard screamer…”

Shankland did net one from halfway—similar to the renowned Kenny McLean—a spectacular 53-yard strike against St Johnstone in January 2021.

“With his diverse skill set, it was clear he would eventually reach the upper echelons,” McCall continued. “However, it took longer than we anticipated.”

Aging but improving

Shankland’s path has not been straightforward.

Before joining Ayr, he plied his trade in lower leagues, had an unsuccessful stint at Aberdeen, enjoyed a promising first season at Dundee United followed by a disappointing second, and then went abroad to Beerschot in Belgium in 2021, but that venture did not yield results either.

Upon arriving at Hearts in 2022, he revitalized his career with 28 goals in 48 matches in his first season, followed by 33 goals in 56 the subsequent season. He made it to the Euros, where he appeared three times, albeit briefly, off the bench, but he was involved nonetheless.

However, he faced another hurdle in the 2024-25 season, scoring only nine goals for Hearts, with the team finishing seventh in the Premiership. He appeared less fit and mobile than expected and was often played out of position.

Contract negotiations were prolonged and contentious. He was linked with a move to Rangers, but they showed no interest. His representatives sought a higher wage for him to remain at Tynecastle, which the club was unwilling to meet. The situation became complicated and divisive.

Then, Derek McInnes took over as manager and made it clear to club officials that he valued Shankland. A deal was struck, their manager-player relationship flourished, and Shankland truly excelled.

He scored in a notable match against Denmark last November, scored two stunning goals against Curacao in Scotland’s farewell match before heading to America, and once again in their opening game in the United States—a friendly against Bolivia last weekend.

Suddenly, Scotland looks formidable. The prolific striker they’ve been searching for has emerged at last. His goals-per-minute return is among the best for any Scottish striker in decades.

“He has numerous excellent attributes, but his most crucial quality is his ability to find space,” McCall mentions. “Lawrence can identify and utilize spaces early on.”

“As you elevate in football, that skill becomes even more essential. His touch is superb. He thrives when he starts high and drops back into the gaps between midfield and attack.”

“I hope he’d agree that the support and affection he received from the Ayr fans and dressing room helped him regain his confidence. He became a leader in our squad and has continued to thrive since.”

Shankland has now joined Rangers, a transfer that many believe should have happened long ago. He will turn 31 in August.

After all these years, he finally feels at home in this squad and confident at the highest level. As Naismith notes, he truly recognizes that he belongs. This realization has come at a pivotal moment in his career.

Is Shankland the Striker…