Lawrence Shankland has urged his Hearts team-mates to show they can join him in being leaders on the park – and drive each other towards the title over the final seven games of the season.
The 30-year-old captain returned to the first-team in Saturday’s battling 1-0 home win over Dundee after two months out when coming on as a second-half substitute and saw Derek McInnes’ side keep themselves clear at the top of the Premiership.
Manager McInnes, however, admitted he wants the side to play with a little more risk and Shankland is equally keen to see his fellow players make demands on each other to raise standards and recapture some of the dynamism from earlier in the campaign.
‘I think when you’re on the pitch and you’re the type of person that demands it from people, it can help drive that,’ said Shankland, buoyed by the fact other injured players such as Stuart Findlay, Harry Milne, Craig Halkett and Tomas Magnusson will be back available after the international break.
‘Some people see it as moany. I see it as demanding. You can demand service, you can ask questions of your team-mates to find you.
Shankland is eager to drive standards as Hearts compete for the Premiership title
Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland battles with Dundee defender Brad Halliday
‘The more leaders we have on the pitch will obviously help that and drive the standards with regard to the way we want to play as well. I’ve no concerns over that.
‘The squad will get stronger, because we’re getting the boys that have been injured back pretty soon, it looks like.
‘Obviously, the success we’ve had up until now proves that we’ve got a good squad there. When we’re at full strength, we’re really good and that belief will grow as long as we keep winning games.
‘It’s important getting people back, obviously. Every squad in Scotland will have people they see as their talismen and their better players.
‘But I think everybody who’s come into our team this year, every time they’ve been asked to, has done a really good job. Regardless of the amount they’ve had to play, whether that part be little, everybody’s come in and done their job when required.
‘It’s been a huge part of our success this season and I’m sure that’ll be a huge part of it for the rest of it as well.’
Shankland celebrates with team-mates Alexander Kyziridis and Claudio Braga
With every point becoming a prisoner, Shankland is also perfectly open about the fact he is cheering on every side that takes on title rivals Celtic and Rangers these days.
‘Of course! You want everybody around you to lose,’ he admitted. ‘That’s the way the game is.
‘As long as we keep winning our games, we don’t need to concern ourselves too much about that – but come on the other teams!’
Victory over Dundee was crucial for Hearts after losing to Kilmarnock in their previous fixture, but Shankland believes the side deserve credit for always being able to dig in and make amends for bad results.
‘We’ve done it brilliantly this season,’ he said. ‘Our evidence shows that we can bounce back after a defeat. I think that might be almost every time we’ve managed to do it. That’s important.’
Hearts were given a special welcome at the ground by supporters on Saturday and Shankland admits turning up at Tynecastle for matches now is becoming something special with history now almost within the team’s grasp.
‘I tried to come down the wrong street and I realised it was blocked off, so I had to do a quick U-turn and go back the other way to get through it,’ he said.
‘That was brilliant. The boys really appreciate the effort the Ultra boys and the rest of the support have gone to to make it a really enjoyable experience for us.
‘Just coming to play at home is great. We need everybody buying into that, going in the right direction and getting right behind the team.’
Oisin McEntee rises to head home the only goal of the game against Dundee
Shankland crosses the ball during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Dundee at Tynecastle
Shankland was a constant presence on the sidelines during his injury absence and admits the strength of the current Hearts squad made his recovery easier to deal with.
‘I tried not to get frustrated, to be honest. Obviously, the whole injury process is quite new to me,’ he said. ‘I’ve not had too many in my career that have kept me out too long. I think this eight or nine-week one was probably the longest I’ve had.
‘When the team’s all going in the same direction, everybody believing that you’re trying to achieve something, I think that helps the buy-in.
‘Usually, you’re sitting on the side hoping the day will be not too good so that you can get yourself back in, but I feel it was certainly different this time. Everybody in the collective was really good in supporting each other and it was good to be a part of that.
‘I know we’ve got the ability in the squad. You can see the quality we’ve got throughout the game to fill the gaps.
‘That helped me as well, I could be a bit more relaxed about things going forward. There wasn’t too much of a rush to get back as soon as possible. It’s been good.’
