Scotland head to the European Championships this summer and have a difficult task ahead of them to get out of Group A. Host nation Germany, Switzerland and Hungary are their opponents. It’s going to be tough. But Steve Clarke has a weapon in his arsenal in the form of Lawrence Shankland, who gives Scotland hope at the very least.
Shankland, 28, recently named by the Scottish PFA as Player of the Year, is a man who knows where the back of the net is, having scored twenty-eight goals in all competitions at the time of writing. Euro 2024 online betting odds don’t hold much hope for Scotland being successful over in Germany this summer, but when you’ve got a proven goal-getter in your ranks, there’s always a chance. And Shankland and goals go hand in hand.
At present, Shankland, who currently plies his trade for Hearts, has nine senior caps for his country, having spent a lengthy spell unselected by Clarke and Scotland. However, he’s consistently continued to score goals at the highest level in the Scottish Premiership and will undoubtedly win the Golden Boot when the season ends. The former Ayr man has made himself difficult to ignore and has been selected by Clarke for the last four international squads.
Previously, Clarke has opted to start with QPR striker Lyndon Dykes or Luton’s Jacob Brown, and you could make a case for both. But Scotland will need goals if they’re to get out of Group A, with Germany and Switzerland strongly fancied to finish in first and second place. The reason why Shankland makes a very good case for himself is his consistent goalscoring form for Hearts this season, his form in the Europa League Conference qualifiers and the fact he’s one of those forwards who always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
Chances are, Shankland goes to the Euros but doesn’t start initially. However, Clarke will undoubtedly call for him off the bench, and if he manages to get on the scoresheet, it could be his way into the starting XI. And if it turns out that both Scotland and Shankland give good accounts of themselves in Germany, both will benefit, especially the latter, when he returns to Scotland post-tournament.
Shankland’s goalscoring form hasn’t gone unnoticed, with clubs such as Rangers linked with a move in the previous transfer window. After a move away from Hearts failed to be realised, the goals continued to flow, which has only made Shankland a man in even more demand as the summer approaches.
With only one year left on his current deal to run, Hearts could decide to cash in now, as it’s unlikely he will sign an extension when there’s a chance to progress further in his career. For the first time, clubs south of the border have been attributed with an interest in Shankland, with the Championship a likely destination, especially if he stars at the Euros.