Lawrence Shankland earns roaring Steve Clarke defence as Scotland boss insists it's EVERYONE ELSE he's worried about

Steve Clarke has thrown down the gauntlet to his three Scotland strikers to blast their way into his starting line-up for the Euros.

The national boss admits he’s having to choose ‘horses for courses’ with his attackers as he prepares to give them some more shooting practice against Northern Ireland at Hampden. Hearts skipper Lawrence Shankland was given the chance to lead Clarke’s line on Friday night against the Dutch in Amsterdam - with Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes left in reserve - as Scotland crashed to a bruising 4-0 defeat.

And, while the manager insists Shankland’s credentials have been enhanced by that performance despite a glaring second half miss, he admits he’s hoping that at least one of his centre forwards can go on a scoring hot streak between now and the finals in Germany. Clarke said: “The reason I played Lawrence against Holland was I have to see how he plays against that level of opposition. And he was good. He’s done himself no harm whatsoever.

“Forget the scoreline. Forget the chance that he missed. Lawrence was good in the game. It was a good night for Lawrence but maybe not a good night for everybody else! The other two boys, I know what they can do.

“But, yes, it would be nice if one of them at their club started to knock in the goals and become the main man. I’d much rather three of them were doing it going into the Euros. Then it makes it a difficult choice.

“There will always be a little bit of horses for courses in terms of the nature of the striker, the make-up of the opposition and how we are going to approach the game – with a high press or a lower block. There’s always going to be room to manoeuvre with the strikers. And that helps.”

And Clarke rejects any suggestion that Shankland blew his