'This is how ...': Scotland hero opens up on rise back to stardom on multiple levels

All week the talk of the nation has been which of Scott McTominay’s overhead kick, Kieran Tierney’s 25-yard raker or Kenny McLean’s effort from the halfway line should be labelled Scotland’s best after vanquishing Denmark 4-2. Poor Lawrence Shankland is being forgotten in all of this.

Naturally, glancing home a Lewis Ferguson corner kick from a yard out is not going to win any beauty contests. But you get the same reward no matter how pretty or ugly a goal is. Shankland’s effort made it 2-1 for Scotland with 15 minutes to go. It reignited belief that they could usurp the ten-man Danes and qualify for the World Cup.

Shankland had not long come on as a substitute as head coach Steve Clarke went for the jugular. “Go and get a goal,” the striker revealed of his manager’s message on the hour mark. “Or get two if you can! I don't think he quite pictured a 4-2 result in the end, with then down to ten men. It was just about going and trying to win the game and thankfully we did that.”

It was not so long ago that Shankland was out of the Scotland picture. A regular fixture in the squad between 2019 and 2024, the 30-year-old went to last year’s European Championships and kept his place until the start of 2025. However, as his club form dipped at Hearts, he was usurped by teammate James Wilson, Hibs’ Kieron Bowie and Ipswich’s George Hirst in the pecking order.

Being selected for this month’s double-header against Greece and Denmark was his first call-up in almost a year. It is vindication for Shankland’s decision to remain at Hearts when his contract expired in the summer, for he is front and centre of a revolution at Tynecastle. Unbeaten Hearts are top of the Premiership and Shankland went into this weekend’s card of fixtures as the league’s top goalscorer with seven strikes. Statistically, he is the country’s most in-form striker.

“Of course, when you're watching the first few games in the house, there's a frustration there that you want to be back involved,” explained Shankland. “But I've been lucky enough now that I've been part of a couple of qualifications. You want to leave your mark and managing to get a goal, hopefully it does that.”

Shankland’s ‘amazing feeling’

Shankland was just about to turn three when Scotland were last at a World Cup in 1998. “It's got to be the top [moment],” he said of qualification. “I've been in the stands for many, many years as a kid. I've seen us go close but just not quite get there. To actually be on that pitch when we go and play their part to get there is an amazing feeling. It’ll probably only sink in after a few days.”

Fortunes have turned around quickly for Shankland. It is almost a year since the striker – following a difficult start to last season – suffered one of the lowest nights of his career when was subjected to chants of “Shankland, get to f***” by a section of Hearts’ travelling support after missing a penalty in a Conference League defeat away to Cercle Brugge.

“That’s how football changes,” he smiled. “Of course there are darker times and low moments but it’s coming through the low moments that make nights like the other night what they are. When you get that feeling, that’s why you need to enjoy it. I’m in a good place, I’m feeling really positive, the club’s feeling positive and my game’s in a good place as well. I’m looking forward to everything.”

Matters quickly turn back to club football. Scotland don’t convene again until March for a couple of friendlies. The good news for Shankland is that he has an exciting period coming up at Hearts.

The Jam Tarts sit top of the league after 12 matches, having won nine and drawn three. Their excellent start under new head coach Derek McInnes and the involvement of Brighton and Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom has raises hopes of a first title winner for 40 years outside of the Old Firm.

A further statement of Hearts’ credentials could be made on Sunday when they head up the A90 to face Aberdeen. Pittodrie has often been an unhappy hunting ground for the capital outfit. Their last victory in the north-east came in 2016 and the Dons have won ten of the most recent 13 clashes there since.

This is a curious fixture all round; we have not seen an away win in the Premiership since Aberdeen won at Tynecastle in May 2017. But if ever there was time to end the wretched run, now is it.

Aberdeen aspire to be one of the clubs at the top end of the table but after a poor start to the season, they sit eighth on 11 points - 19 adrift of Hearts. Their captain Graeme Shinnie knows how a tough a test lies in wait.

“They’ve got a good squad, a good manager,” Shinnie said. “They’ve had a brilliant start to the season. They’re in a very strong position. They’ve done really, really well. But we try and obviously focus on ourselves. We’re at home and we are looking to try and get the win that we need to start climbing the table. Yes, they’ve had a good start to the season, but we want to change that.”

Keeping Shankland quiet will be key - although that was hard on Tuesday during post-match partying in Glasgow. “I’m actually fine,” the striker added when asked if the events of this week had taken it out of him physically and emotionally. “My vocal cords have taken a wee bit of a beating from the singing but apart from that, my body feels good.

“I’m just looking forward to the weekend.”