Lawrence Shankland's Continued Scotland Omission Raises Questions
With sixty-eight goals over the past three seasons and eleven goal contributions in his last ten league games, Heart of Midlothian captain Lawrence Shankland has been a standout performer. Yet, he faces another exclusion from the Scotland national team.
The recent squad announcement for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Belarus has raised eyebrows, particularly regarding the omission of the in-form 30-year-old striker.
When asked about Shankland's chances of being included, Scotland head coach Steve Clarke acknowledged, "He's always close. I know Lawrence very well and understand what he can bring to the team. However, the forwards I selected for the last camp performed well, both in training and in matches, and I didn't see much reason to make a change."
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes expressed that while he was "not surprised" by the decision, he believes Shankland could be recalled if he continues his impressive form.
But should Shankland feel aggrieved about not being part of Clarke's immediate plans?
What Do the Numbers Say?
The statistics suggest that Clarke does not solely rely on goalscoring records when selecting his forwards. For the upcoming qualifiers, he has opted for Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, and Kieron Bowie.
Although Shankland's goal tally dipped last season, he still outperformed all four selected strikers in terms of goals and assists since the beginning of the previous campaign. However, the caliber of the forwards in question plays a significant role in the selection process.
Hirst was competing in the Premier League with relegated Ipswich Town last season, while Adams has experience as a Serie A striker with Torino. Dykes, who played in England's third tier last season, has now returned to the Championship. Bowie, recently turned 23, is viewed as a long-term investment after establishing himself as a key player for Hibernian.
Shankland, who turned 30 in August, has returned to form with Hearts, leading the Premiership with a remarkable record. Despite a challenging previous season, he still managed 20 goal involvements (nine goals and eleven assists). In his last ten league appearances, he has scored eight goals and provided three assists, and his recent strike against Falkirk made him the Scottish Professional Football League's all-time leading scorer. Since joining Hearts in 2022, he has netted 75 goals and provided 25 assists in 147 matches.
Has Shankland Been Given a Fair Chance by Clarke?
Despite his impressive form, Shankland has not been granted a consistent opportunity in Clarke's squad. For many, it is difficult to comprehend how a striker with such a record could be overlooked.
While he has received call-ups and earned 16 caps with three goals, he has started in only four matches. The reasons for this are multifaceted, some of which remain unknown.
What is clear is that any player vying for a spot in this squad is competing for a place in one of the strongest Scotland teams in nearly three decades. This is particularly challenging given that Clarke often employs a single striker, typically Adams or Dykes.
Adams, a former Southampton player, has scored ten goals in 41 appearances for Scotland and has been active in both the English and Italian top leagues for the past six years. Dykes, despite facing criticism, has been a crucial part of Clarke's strategy since switching allegiance to Scotland, contributing nine goals in 44 appearances and providing a distinct physical presence.
Clarke's loyalty to players like Dykes often invites scrutiny, yet it is a loyalty that has also benefited Shankland. The Hearts forward was called up to the national squad last November despite having scored only once at that point. "I’ll tell him I still love him," Clarke remarked with a smile when discussing Shankland's inclusion.
Since that call-up, Shankland has not featured in the squad, but McInnes believes that the prospect of participating in a World Cup next summer should motivate the striker. "The motivation for Lawrence, and all players hoping to be involved with Scotland, is the World Cup. That has to be the goal," McInnes stated. The future of Clarke's squad and Shankland's potential role will unfold in the coming months.