From the minute he made his debut for Queen’s Park against Elgin as a 16-year-old in the bottom tier, it was evident to all that Lawrence Shankland’s God-given gifts could take him a long way.
The eventual destination for the forward was always going to be determined by his willingness to embrace information, process it and evolve.
For all that scoring goals appeared to come as naturally to him as breathing as he approached his mid-20s, you wondered if the lightbulb moment would ever arrive.
Shankland scored freely with Ayr United and Dundee United just as he’d done earlier in his loan spells at Dunfermline and St Mirren, but the concern over him being too one-dimensional was the reason why he slipped off to Beerschot in Belgium five years ago without much fuss.
The forward was 26 by the time he returned to Scotland with Hearts a year on with a reputation for being a deadly finisher yet lacking in other key skill sets.
His development across four seasons in Gorgie, though, has taken a flamethrower to the theory that you are all the player you’re ever going to be at that age.
Lawrence Shankland proudly poses with his new colours after his unveiling at Ibrox
The goals continued to come in droves — 88, all told, in maroon. But it’s been Shankland’s growing appreciation of the demands of the position which have caught the eye in a way which no statistic can convey.
No one now talks about a man who has the temerity to do nothing but score goals. Shankland has listened and learned and become a far more rounded centre forward.
‘Lawrence is somebody who I’ve worked with closely and who I think is at the best he’s ever been at now 30 years old,’ said his former Hearts manager and current Scotland assistant Steven Naismith.
‘He’s taken a bit of time to get to that point, but in the last probably two, three years his progression’s been better than probably most in the squad.
‘He’s had challenges and moments where it’s not been good, but he’s rebounded and come back.
‘I first came across him as a forward when I was a player and he was a finisher — with no real game knowledge. I think when I then worked with him as a coach, that was a massive change.
Shankland has been a thorn in Rangers’ side many times but now he’ll aim to be their star man
‘His game intelligence and his finesse is top level. He’s not only done it when he’s been in a team that’s been winning 3-0, he’s done it in big, big moments.
‘At the end of my time at Hearts, Lawrence was finding it tough because probably a lot was going on. But, as you’ve seen, he’s rebounded and become the best player in Scotland for me.
‘He’s a really good weapon to have going into a World Cup.’
Ten days ago, Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh forwarded the theory that the side’s shortcomings in the season just gone were largely due to a mentality issue.
As well as signing talented footballers, the American said the club had to recruit ones who stood out from the crowd as leaders of men if the team was to eventually succeed.
Quite why this point was lost on the hierarchy a year ago remains a mystery, but a lesson has clearly been learned.
The identikit of the player Cavenagh had in mind, Shankland’s eventual capture should go some way to addressing a long-standing flaw in the make-up of the Ibrox squad.
Shankland was a goal sensation at Ayr United before going on to star in the top flight
‘That’s probably an area that people won’t give him credit for — his leadership skills are as good as I’ve seen I think,’ added Naismith.
‘If there’s tough moments and you need to face a crowd or whatever, he’ll put somebody to the side and say, “No I’ll deal with this”.
‘He knows the pressure that is put on players. His leadership skills are something he’s developed and you must credit the likes of Robbie Neilson for giving him the captaincy and the opportunity to perform that way.’
As much as Hearts are clearly irked at losing for nothing a player who supporters believed was contracted for a further two years, the Tynecastle club at least have the summer to address the matter.
From Scotland’s perspective, it’s certainly better that Shankland’s move has gone through in advance of a World Cup which will bring quite enough challenges.
‘For me, over the last three, four years, Lawrence has been arguably the best player in Scotland overall for every area: leadership, goal scoring, importance to a team, his build-up play,’ Naismith continued.
Shankland’s heroics with Hearts pushed them to the brink of title glory last season
‘He’s probably taken a wee bit of time to get to that comfortable zone. I fully believe he’s at that now at what’s probably the best moment he can be going into a World Cup. I think he’s as good as he’s ever been in every aspect of his game.’
His growing stature is manifest in the debate surrounding his role for the side in the USA compared to that of two years ago in Germany.
Despite coming off the back of a 30-goal season with Hearts, Shankland was viewed as a back-up for Che Adams as opposed to an alternative in 2024.
This time feels different. Whether Steve Clarke opts to play with one or two forwards, it feels like the now Rangers man has moved to the front of the queue.
‘Every striker coming into this squad will have a bit of belief that they’ll play or should start for Scotland,’ Naismith offered. ‘The players that have been selected all probably have some things that are slightly different and will be needed without a doubt.
‘I think the good thing about this squad is we can play a few formations. We’ve shown that we’re good at it and sometimes it can be seen as brave playing two strikers. Whether that’s with a back five or a back four in a 4-4-2, we’ve done it well.
‘The gaffer’s got an idea of how he wants to do it in each game, but the next two weeks are going to decide that. It’s genuinely there for the players to go and say I’m determined to be the one that starts for Scotland.’
With his big move sealed, Shankland’s attention will now turn to leading the line for his country
There’s a growing expectation that Shankland may not be the only member of the Scotland set-up putting pen to paper on a new deal this week.
At his squad announcement, Clarke stated that his future would be resolved by the time the squad heads across the Atlantic on Sunday.
A new deal through to Euro 2028? It would certainly be roundly welcomed if that’s indeed how it plays out.
While understandably reluctant to offer an opinion on the prospect of such an announcement, Naismith is certain that the squad will leave without the matter being an issue.
‘He’s a guy who has got us to three tournaments, a brilliant manager who has built something here that’s brilliant,’ said his assistant. ‘And what he’s said to us most of the time for all of us has been true. He said the boys would get to a World Cup, he said they would make it to tournaments. And they have.
‘So, I’m pretty sure it will be sorted before a ball is kicked.’
