Scotland manager Steve Clarke is the latest to praise Rangers-linked Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland.

Steve Clarke talked up Lawrence Shankland’s commitment to the Scotland cause ahead of the nation’s final European Championship qualifier against Norway at Hampden.

With Scotland already qualified for next summer’s tournament in Germany, Lawrence Shankland may well be pitched in against the Scandinavians.

After all, the big striker did his chances with Scotland no harm when he stepped up to score a late equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Georgia in Tblisi.

Steve Clarke praises Lawrence Shankland

Manager Steve Clarke reckons the goal has kept everyone smiling in the Scotland camp and Lawrence Shankland has been singled out for some praise by the Scotland manager.

What’s more, the Scotland boss has revealed the forward is very much in his planning with regards the national side.

“Lawrence is always in my thoughts,” said Clarke. “What’s that goal done for him? It’s made him smile, it has made everyone smile.

“It was an important goal for us. Lyndon ran himself into the ground on Thursday like he always does. But we were looking for a goal against a team defending on their 18-yard box.

“I had a choice between Lawrence and Jacob Brown. If a chance is going to fall in the box, who do you want it to fall to? Probably Lawrence.

“He got the goal but they are all in my thoughts for Sunday. We have a good relationship. Lawrence has been in and out of squads but is a player who, when you need him and call him up late one night, he’s there the next morning.

“That’s a boy who wants to do well for his country and we appreciate that.”

Fans split on Shankland to Rangers

The strike against Georgia was Lawrence Shankland’s second goal for the Scotland national team, the first coming against San Marino in 2019.

The goal continues what is an impressive run of form for the striker in Scottish football, where Shankland has scored five goals in his last five domestic games

Recently, there’s been discussion around Lawrence Shankland and a move to Rangers after links between the two parties heading into the summer.

This comes after historic links to Lawrence Shankland from his time with Ayr United and Dundee United, the boyhood bluenose having been released from the Ibrox academy as a youngster.

Rangers legends Kris Boyd, Lee McCulloch and Barry Ferguson also haven’t been shy in recommending the player to the Gers.

Undoubtedly one of the best players in the Scottish Premiership, much has also been made about the Ibrox side’s lop-sided UEFA squad.

A lack of homegrown options means Rangers are missing out on a full European squad season-after-season and the club needs to start recruiting the best Scottish trained players.

When you add Shankland’s goalscoring record into the mix – the hitman has 38 goals in 66 games for the Jambos – there some Rangers fans who believe this is a no-brainer.

But there are others who fundamentally do not believe that the 28-year-old is capable of leading the line at Rangers or that Lawrence is of the required quality.

Whilst we’ll let you make your own mind up on Lawrence Shankland, it’s clear the striker has a big fan in Steve Clarke and we don’t expect the sounds around Rangers to go quiet either.