Macfarlane warns Hearts they can’t replace Shankland if he leaves in January
Former Hearts midfielder Neil Macfarlane has backed the club to see out the season in third spot in the cinch Premiership, provided they can repel outside interest in striker Lawrence Shankland.
The Brentford B team manager, who played 95 games for the capital side over three and a half years, believes there will be several clubs in England and in Scotland weighing up a move for the top flight’s leading scorer, and he says that Hearts would be able to make good money if they were to sell. However, he hopes they hang onto the player for at least the remainder of the season.
“I wouldn’t like to put a price on him but Hearts will know they can command a good fee for him,” said Macfarlane of Shankland. “First and foremost he is a terrific player. He is an outstanding finisher. They need to hold onto him because they can’t replace his goals in January which is such a tough window for any team.
“They’d find it really difficult if Shankland was to move on.
He is reflective of the season they’re having - and thinking of where they want to go this season then I think they need to keep him.
“He’s very, very good. It’s amazing because he’s only 28 and playing at the peak of his career up here. I’m quite sure there will be a lot of teams sniffing about him down south and up here.
“But if Hearts keep him I think they can finish third this season. It’s so difficult to replace that amount of goals so hopefully they can keep him. I wouldn’t like to put a price on him but Hearts will know they can command a good fee for him.
“They are enjoying a really fruitful period and hopefully they can cement their spot in third because this league needs a strong Hearts. It needs strong clubs from top to bottom. But the Edinburgh clubs are huge and it’s good when you see them both battling at the top end.”
Having left Hearts back in 2006, Macfarlane moved into coaching in 2012, working with fellow former Jambos Steven Pressley and then Robbie Neilson before taking on a managerial role at Kidderminster Harriers in 2018. A year later he took on his current job of head coach at Brentford
B, where he has enjoyed a frontrow seat to another Tynecastle graduate Aaron Hickey’s ongoing progress.
Macfarlane is expecting Hickey to kick on. “Aaron is injured just now but he is so highly thought of,” he added. “First and foremost, he’s a terrific young player. A terrific full-back. I obviously think it will be a huge benefit if we can have him back in that Euros squad in the summer
“He is a really good person who has the qualities to perform where we are at the moment but I think he can also kick on. Getting into the Hearts team at just 16 builds character. Then going out to Italy as a teenager shows real strength. We can see that, and Brentford are reaping the benefits. He has been a big loss since being injured. “He has a big future in general. We love him and when he comes back he will be a major part of our team. I think Aaron has the capabilities to go on and play for a top six team in England.”