Striker hopes to boost his chances

He was the main man for Dundee United last season and now goal machine Lawrence Shankland has his sights set on becoming a Scotland regular, writes Calum Woodger.

Having made his debut against Russia last year, the 24-year-old hopes United’s rise to the Premiership gives his cap chances a boost.

“If I go up to the Premiership and I do well, there’s nothing to say I can’t get myself in there,” he said speaking on the Football Daft podcast.

“If you’re in the squad, you’ve always got a chance of forcing yourself into that team.

“I probably played more of that (Euro qualifiers) trip than I thought I would have, to be honest.

“I didn’t know what to expect. I thought I was just going to join up and see how I did in the training.

“I was just looking forward to that alone, but then getting the chance to come on as a sub (against Russia) and then starting the other game (against San Marino) is something I probably could never have imagined.

“I’ve shown that I can go there, and they wouldn’t put you in if they didn’t think you impressed in training, so I’ve done that before.

“If I go and impress in the Premiership there’s no reason why I can’t do well and get back in the squads.”

Speculation is something the former Ayr man has become accustomed to after scoring 28 goals in 33 appearances for the Tangerines last season.

Shankland takes it all in his stride and moved to sully rumours Celtic, Rangers and Stoke tried to secure his services.

He added: “It’s always the same – it’ll probably start again soon.

“If you’ve done well, people just automatically (think) any time there’s a scout at the game ‘they’re there to watch you’ – and they’re probably not, they’re there to watch somebody else.

“With Stoke, Rangers and Celtic that was the three strongest rumours and I hadn’t heard from any of them at all.”