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Have Rangers just signed Scotland's World Cup number nine?
TL;DR
Rangers have signed Lawrence Shankland, captain of Heart of Midlothian, potentially strengthening their squad. There are expectations that he could lead Scotland's forward line in the upcoming World Cup.
Key points
- Rangers signed Lawrence Shankland from Heart of Midlothian
- Shankland scored 72 league goals for Hearts
- He is expected to lead Scotland's attack in the World Cup
- Scotland's World Cup campaign starts against Haiti on June 14
- Steven Naismith praises Shankland's recent progression
Mentioned in this story
Lawrence ShanklandRangersHeart of MidlothianSteven Naismith
World Cup
Rangers' capture of Heart of Midlothian captain Lawrence Shankland could prove to be the most significant move of the summer transfer window, but have the Ibrox club also signed the man who will be leading the forward line for Scotland at this summer's World Cup?
Scotland have long struggled to produce prolific strikers at international level and yet the man who bagged 72 league goals for Hearts has found himself no more than a bit-part player for the national team under Steve Clarke.
After another stellar season in which his 21 goals spearheaded Hearts to a Scottish Premiership title challenge only to be pipped in a final day shootout with Celtic, there is growing evidence that Shankland should be the man tasked with leading the Scotland attack when they kick off their World Cup campaign against Haiti on 14 June.
Steven Naismith has worked with Shankland during his spell as Hearts' head coach and now as Scotland assistant, and thinks Shankland "is at the best he's ever been at now at 30-years-old".
Naismith admits: "He's took a bit of time to get to that point, but in the last two or three years, his progression's been better than probably most in the squad.
"So he's had challenges and moments where it's not been good, but he's rebounded and come back, had another fantastic season.
"Going into the World Cup, he's in a brilliant frame of mind to actually not just be here but be a big player for us in this World Cup."
Just four of Shankland's 18 Scotland appearances have been starts, with the rest coming from the bench.
He has scored four goals for his country, the most notable coming against Denmark on that magical night in November when World Cup qualification was secured at a raucous Hampden Park.
Clarke famously puts his faith in players that have been there and done it for him before and not too many Scotland fans would be shocked, regardless of current form, to see Lyndon Dykes and/or Che Adams favoured over Shankland, George Hirst and Ross Stewart to start against Haiti.
If the Scotland head coach was minded to delve into the statistics, though, he would find some added weight for Shankland's case for inclusion.
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Q&A
Who is Lawrence Shankland and what are his achievements?
Lawrence Shankland is the captain of Heart of Midlothian and has scored 72 league goals, including 21 in a recent season.
What role is Lawrence Shankland expected to play for Scotland in the World Cup?
He is expected to lead the forward line for Scotland in the World Cup, starting with their match against Haiti on June 14.
How has Lawrence Shankland's performance influenced his national team selection?
Despite his impressive club performance, Shankland has been a bit-part player for Scotland, but his recent form has led to calls for his inclusion as a key striker.
What does Steven Naismith say about Lawrence Shankland's development?
Steven Naismith believes Shankland is at his best now at 30 years old and has shown significant progression over the last few years.
