We’ll help Shanks to cap return
ROBBIE NEILSON is convinced Hearts can help get Lawrence Shankland back playing for Scotland.
The Jambos’ new signing has four caps and one goal at international level.
But the 26-year-old’s last appearance for the national team came in 2020 as a late sub in a 1-0 loss to Slovakia.
Neilson is sure the former Aberdeen, Ayr and Dundee United frontman is a better player following his season in the Belgian top flight with Beerschot.
And after landing the striker on a three-year deal last week, the Hearts gaffer insists his side can be the perfect springboard for Shankland to catch the eye of Steve Clarke again
After a debut double against Stoke at Tynecastle last Saturday, Neilson said: “I had him at United and he’s a natural goalscorer.
“He’ll add massively to the club.
“We create chances and we need guys to put the ball in the net. We worked with Lawrence at Dundee United and had a great relationship with him.
“He scored 25 goals and won us the Championship.
“We always kept an eye on him and kept in contact with him as well.
“We’ve been working for a long time to try to get him here and I’m just delighted he’s here.
“We watched his games in Belgium and you can see he has developed as a player over there, playing in a different style and different culture.
“He’s a couple of years older now and experienced.
“So our job now is to get him into good positions, create chances for him and I’m sure he’ll score goals.
“The aim is to get him scoring goals for Hearts and get him back into the international team.”