Have Rangers just signed Scotland's World Cup number nine?

Lawrence Shankland’s move to Rangers could be the defining transfer of the summer, while his role for Scotland at the World Cup is increasingly seen as central. Scotland have struggled to produce prolific international strikers, yet Shankland scored 72 goals in 135 games for Hearts and has recently delivered another standout season with 21 goals that powered a Scottish Premiership title challenge. Under Steve Clarke, he has often been a substitute, with only four of 18 appearances starting, but he has scored four goals for Scotland, including a key strike against Denmark during World Cup qualification. Steven Naismith believes Shankland is at his best at 30 and is in a strong mindset to be a major player in the tournament.

"Scotland have long struggled to produce prolific strikers at international level and yet the man who bagged 72 goals in 135 games for Hearts has found himself no more than a bit-part player for the national team under Steve Clarke. After another stellar season in which his 21 goals spearheaded Hearts to an extraordinary Scottish Premiership title challenge only to be pipped in a final-day shootout with Celtic, there is growing evidence that Shankland should be the man tasked with leading the Scotland attack when they kick-off their World Cup campaign against Haiti in Boston on 14 June."

"Steven Naismith has worked with Shankland during his spell as Hearts' head coach and now as Scotland assistant and thinks Shankland "is at the best he's ever been at now at 30-years-old". Naismith admits: "He's took a bit of time to get to that point, but in the last two or three years, his progression's been better than probably most in the squad. "So he's had challenges and moments where it's not been good, but he's rebounded and come back, had another fantastic season. "Going into the World Cup, he's in a brilliant frame of mind to actually not just be here but be a big player for us in this World Cup.""

"Just four of Shankland's 18 Scotland appearances have been starts, with the rest coming from the bench. He has scored four goals for his country, the most notable coming against Denmark on that magical night in November when World Cup qualification was secured at a raucous Hampden Park. Clarke famously puts his faith in players that have been there and done it for him before and not too many Scotland fans would be shocked, regardless of current form, to see Lyndon Dyk"

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