Why I'd start Lawrence Shankland against Germany and I bet Scotland gesture left Craig Gordon p***** off - Ryan Stevenson

The language of top-level sport is always changing.

In the dressing rooms I grew up in, we’d talk about sitting deep and winning the second balls. Now it’s all about the low blocks and transitions. Even substitutes have had a rebrand. Eddie Jones, the old England rugby boss, used to call them finishers. It was his way of trying to soothe the frustration of players he was dropping from his line-up by making out they still had a role to play in the crucial final moments.

Fair enough if the game was still hanging in the balance but try taking that old cobblers if you were getting flung on at
4-0 down! My old St Johnstone gaffer Owen Coyle had a similar trick after telling you to take a seat on the bench. He’d turn round and say, “You’re not subs, your my match-winners!” You’d be sat there raging, knowing you’d been snubbed. But he’d then call on you and tell you to go out and get the goal that would win the points.

And you know what? As much as you knew it was flannel, half the time it worked. You’d sprint on to the park determined to answer that call. Lawrence Shankland won’t need much encouragement to do a job for Scotland regardless of whether he’s a starter or a “finisher”. Either way, I believe he can play a huge role. If it was down to me I’d be going with the Hearts skipper from the kick-off against Germany on Friday night.

I’ve heard the arguments about his lack of mobility but his game intelligence has come on so much this season that he could fulfil that key role up top. Scotland have come to rely on Lyndon Dykes’ physicality and legs during Steve Clarke’s time as manager but sadly that option is no longer available due to injury. Tommy Conway and Lewis Morgan have been called up to join Shankland and Che Adams