Jubilant Naismith confirms interest in his superstar striker

STEVEN NAISMITH last night confirmed there is already interest in Lawrence Shankland ahead of the January transfer window opening.

The Hearts captain scored a double in the 2-0 home win over St Mirren to make it 10 goals in his last 11 club matches and 15 for the Tynecastle side this season in total.

The Scotland international, whose second goal was a wonder strike, has been linked with a January move to Rangers.

Hearts are in no rush to sell their talisman and Naismith believes the club will do their best to hang on to their star asset.

However, when asked if he was concerned there may be interest in Shankland when the window opens, the Hearts boss said: ‘I think there is already interest in him. There is going to be.

‘When you have got players playing at the top of their game, there is going to be interest.

‘Every club in Scotland are in that same category where we are not at the elite, top level where you can just push away anyone being interested in your players — but that doesn’t change anything.

‘We are a club that’s in a really good situation. We are progressive and we want to get better as a business, better as a football squad — and having Shanks is that. So everyone is comfortable (about the situation). The pleasing aspect is that he is doing so well.

‘It’s credit to the team, credit to Shanks and credit to us all as a group. There is going to be interest when you are doing well.’

Naismith praised Shankland for his second goal which saw him flick the ball up then send it into the top right corner of the Saints net.

‘That’s just instinct,’ said the Hearts boss.

‘He is a goalscorer first and foremost. As soon as he takes his first touch he knows what he is doing. There’s no panic. There’s no rushed feeling. As soon as it leaves his boot he knows it’s a goal, 100 per cent. I have been there myself. It’s top, top quality but that’s Shanks. That shows you his value to us.’

Hearts fans cheered Craig Gordon yesterday as he warmed up after goalkeeper Zander Clark fell to the deck injured.

The Tynecastle fans were hoping to see the veteran keeper back in the first team a year after a careerthreatening double leg break at Dundee last Christmas Eve, but Clark was able to continue.

Addressing the unusual situation, Naismith said: ‘The fans are just happy that Craig is back.

‘Zander has done incredibly well for us and he has gone on to make his Scotland debut.

‘You are going to have competition at Hearts and you have to be comfortable with that. At international level and at club level you need competition.

‘If you have not got it, then you can get stale and comfortable. Today Zander had one really good save and he looks as though he is dealing with the situation perfectly.’

Meanwhile, Stephen Robinson was left lamenting his team’s defending at the first goal and Shankland’s quality at the second.

The Saints boss said: ‘Lawrence has scored a lot of goals at the back post and we pointed that out — but we go in 1-0 down to a goal at the back post.

‘But Lawrence’s second goal was exceptional. It was an incredible finish and it changes any momentum that we had. That was the difference between the levels.’

Robinson added: ‘I felt we got what we deserved. We are better than we showed in the final third.’