Shankland will need ‘to be patient’

Scotland new boy Lawrence Shankland has been warned that he may have to be patient.

Shankland’s club manager Robbie Neilson earned one cap for his country against Ukraine in Kiev on October 11 2006.

Then a Hearts player, Neilson recalls how he had to serve his apprenticeship on the sidelines before finally getting some game time.

The United gaffer said: “I was in about 20 international squads before I got my chance.

“For the first five or six I was sitting in the stands and for the next five or six you get on the bench and then you finally get on and then you are out!

“The way the campaign has gone this means it is an opportunity to look at a number of players in our remaining qualifiers ahead of the Nations League playoffs.

“If we had made it through the group it might have been a different story but it has worked out well for a number of boys and hopefully Lawrence can be one of them.”

Former United striker Billy Dodds insists Shankland could run riot against San Marino.

Dodds believes Scotland boss Steve Clarke will be reluctant to throw the 24-year-old in at the deep end away to Russia.

However, he reckons the clash against the group minnows three days later could provide the perfect opportunity for Shankland to find his feet at international level.

Dodds said: “I am more of a Craig Brown mindset, in terms of doing an apprenticeship and getting you involved in the squad.

“Lawrence is in the squad on merit but I don’t think he will start in Russia.

“But I think there will be an opportunity for him against San Marino. That could be a brilliant game to come in to.

“He’s a natural finisher – you can’t teach people that – and he’ll get chances to score against San Marino.

“With the form he is in, he is more than capable of doing that.”