Super Shankland immune to Saudi chatter and plots glory over PAOK

LAWRENCE SHANKLAND stands to become a very rich young man if reported interest from the Saudi Pro League materialises into something solid. The ridiculous and eye-watering sums being offered by a range of clubs in that ascendant league mean any firm approach would be difficult for the Hearts captain to turn down.

But even if money might inevitably win the day, there are other factors to consider and Thursday night’s European visit of Rosenborg delivered a timely reminder that a packed Tynecastle is capable of delivering a level of thrill and raw emotion that is rare even in the game’s most established hotbeds.

After falling behind to a fifth-minute goal, the Edinburgh side trailed 3-1 on aggregate and were heading out of the Conference League qualifiers.

Yet a rowdy Tynecastle was not to be denied and, when an opening presented itself to Shankland, he pounced and clipped a calm and composed finish over the goalkeeper to turn the tide against the Norwegians.

Two second-half goals from Cammy Devlin followed and, by full-time, the ground was bouncing as Shankland led a lap of honour.

Could a fixture involving Al-Ettifaq or Al-Nassr ever offer a similar assault on the senses?

‘Listen, I live in the here and now,’ said Shankland, still glowing in the aftermath of the win. ‘I play my football at Hearts right now and I’ll keep doing that until I’m told not to.

‘Would it be hard to leave nights like this behind if an opportunity came up? Of course, because these European games with the big atmospheres are great to play in.

‘It’s the same when we play the Old Firm or Aberdeen or Hibs — those are the matches you love to play in.

‘But until that moment comes, I won’t take any interest in it.’

If Shankland is content to knuckle down and get on with his game, his representatives are likely to be paying full attention to any communications from the Middle East.

Just turned 28, the striker’s opportunities to earn a big payday are not limitless and his agency Storm SportsX has already moved his friend Jack Hendry to Steven Gerrard’s club Al-Ettifaq in this window.

Hendry was helpful to Shankland during their shared time in Belgium and enjoyed success with Oostende and then Club Brugge, establishing himself as a Scotland regular along the way.

How the move to Saudi will affect the defender’s international prospects remains to be seen as the league beds in a raft of new coaches and players.

‘I haven’t spoken to Jack, I’ve just seen all sorts of social media posts from over there,’ added Shankland. ‘I might text him and ask if he got the same deal as Neymar!’

There’s no sense of the 27-year-old (below) agitating to leave Hearts, not when he has such a good thing going.

The first striker to net 20 goals since a certain John Robertson was banging them in for the Gorgie faithful in the early 90s, Shankland’s first season at the club also delivered the captain’s armband which he retains as Craig Gordon continues his long-term convalescence.

Despite looking leggy in the team’s first couple of games, the striker picked a good time to find form in midweek and he will be a key figure as the level of opposition steps up another notch with the visit of Greek side PAOK Salonika in the play-off round this Thursday.

‘Last season was great for me, I played well,’ he says. ‘But last weekend against Kilmarnock was probably my worst game for Hearts.

‘So it was important that I bounced back

— that put a smile back on my face. The European games are different to Scottish ones. If you watch the Kilmarnock match and then Rosenborg, it’s a totally different game of football.

‘I enjoy the European games because the games are more open, especially when teams come to Tynecastle. That’s when we get a bit of joy.

‘But the biggest thing is the atmosphere. There’s big pressure on these games but that’s what you want to be involved in.

‘Every team you play is different. Last season, we played against Fiorentina who were totally different to Rosenborg. It depends on the quality of the league the opposition is in. It’s a mixed bag.

‘For me personally, I just try to concentrate on scoring goals. As long as that happens, I’m happy.’

Next up for Hearts is today’s Viaplay Cup visit of Partick Thistle. Shankland has the company of Liam Boyce in attack and the return of the wily Northern Irish striker after a year out injured is appreciated.

In Boyce’s absence, Shankland often had to forage deep and even operated as a de facto midfielder at times.

Yet with Boyce happy to drop off and link, Shankland has a chance to dedicate his energy to doing what he does best.

‘It’s great to have Boycey back,’ he says. ‘He’s a top player and we were starting to get a real connection between us last season when he got injured.

‘He’s come back sharp and he’s looking good again.

‘I’ve played most of my career as a No9 and I got my goal from being in that position, gambling on the shoulder of the defender to score. ‘I don’t mind playing in behind — as long as the goals keep going in, it doesn’t bother me.’