“He was going to go and get a job [as a delivery driver], and he might now be the captain of Hearts, scoring unbelievable targets and happening to raise a title,” former Hearts striker Ryan Stevenson stated on BBC Radio Scotland.
Shankland broke by in a Queen’s Park staff that included the present Scotland captain Andy Robertson and his present Tynecastle team-mate, Blair Spittal, however didn’t make an affect when he moved to Aberdeen.
When he was launched by the Pittodrie outfit, he had a spot the place he thought-about his change of occupation, earlier than a transfer to Ayr United.
Spells with Dundee United and Belgian facet Beerschot adopted, however at Tynecastle, he has discovered a house.
“See for any younger participant listening, let this resonate with you,” Stevenson stated.
“He was going to go and get a job [delivering parcels], and he might now be the captain of Hearts, scoring unbelievable targets and happening to raise a title.
“It’s completely unimaginable, and have you learnt how he is acquired there? Himself.
“Onerous work, dedication, believing in himself, and he is simply discovered the best membership for him.
“He’s now three video games away from lifting the league title, and he deserves it, he completely deserves it.
“A diamond of a participant.”
His cool, scientific, and highly effective strike that put his facet forward towards Rangers – and on the point of historical past – was one more seismic second in a season stuffed with them for Shankland, who has a club-high 14 league targets this season.
His essential close-range purpose for Scotland towards Denmark in November would usually be a career-high second for any ahead, however his season has three monumental video games left, not to mention the prospect to function at this summer season’s World Cup.
“I do know Lawrence, I do know what kind of boy he’s, he has that presence about him,” Stevenson added.
“He is calm too when the ball comes into him, he can take a contact and calm everybody down.
“He brings others into the sport, and his ending is out of this world.”
