Lawrence Shankland has taste of Scotland starting role but 'fine wine' not only striker who can make goals flow

Craig Beattie reckons “fine wine” Lawrence Shankland is ready to be uncorked against Germany.

Steve Clarke was dealt a major Euros headache at the weekend when Lyndon Dykes joined Scotland’s list of casualties and was ruled out of the competition less than two weeks before the showpiece opener. But, while Beattie feels the QPR hitman’s pain, he reckons in Shankland and Che Adams there’s still plenty in reserve to keep the Tartan Army’s spirits high.

Hearts skipper Shankland has come off a season that saw him bang in 32 goals for club and country to be named PFA Scotland and Scottish Sports Writers’ player of the year. But former Jambos and Celtic striker Beattie insists he’s added far more to his game in terms of link-up and hold-up play - two characteristics that will be crucial against the hosts in Munich. And Beattie, whose solitary goal for his country proved to be a last minute winner in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Georgia, reckons Shankland will be ready to answer the call if given the nod.

He said: “Yeah. Lawrence has been a bit of a fine wine to be honest. He has always been good for a goal. He came up through the leagues and won the PFA player of the year award at Ayr. He has done it the hard way. And he is still getting better, his link-up play, his hold-up play is getting better. He is getting in good positions in the box.

“It’s a conundrum Steve Clarke is going to have to figure out depending on his style of play. Depending on the opposition and what he’s looking for to break teams down.

“Lawrence has been unbelievable this year. He won the sports’ writers and PFA player of the year awards and in terms of his goals, 32 including in internationals, it’s a huge number. I know he was linked to Rangers in