Hearts star compared to Ballon D'or favourite as World Cup plea sent amid superstar parallel

Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland is ‘as important’ to Scotland as Harry Kane is to England, according to former Man City and Scotland striker Paul Dickov.

The Gorgie striker bagged 20 goals in 33 Jambos appearances this season to secure his place on the plane to America, where Scotland will face Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in the World Cup group stage. As he boasts the best goal record of all the strikers selected, many are calling for Shankland to be the main man in the summer.

England hero Harry Kane is in contention for the Ballon D’or this season after he scored an eye-popping 58 goals in 50 appearances for Bayern Munich this season. Three Lions fans have relied on the goals of their talisman for years now to get them over the line in knockout tournaments - a responsibility Dickov believes Shankland is more than capable of emulating.

Ex Scotland marksman compares Shankland to Ballon D’or hopeful

Dickov, who scored once for Scotland in 10 appearances himself, thinks the Hearts star will play a key role on the grandest stage of them all. He told LiveFootballTickets: “Lawrence Shankland is certainly going to be important for Scotland this summer. He’s had his injuries recently, but he’s back now, and he’s already back amongst the goals.

“He tried to lead Hearts to the league title, in vain in the end. He’s as important as Kane is to England to this Scotland team. He only needs half a chance, and he’ll bury it, the same as all the top strikers in world football do. Every team that wants to compete at the World Cup has to have a goalscorer, and he’s ours.”

Shankland has been a prolific scorer in the Scottish game his entire career and has played in every professional division. Having been minutes away from captaining Hearts to their first league title in 66 years, the striker also has demonstrated leadership qualities.

Star men need to deliver for Scotland at World Cup

Napoli icon Scott McTominay is widely regarded as Scotland’s best player going into the summer. He’s set to start in midfield alongside club teammate Billy Gilmour and former Hibs man John McGinn. Dickov hopes that Scotland’s star men stand up in the summer. He continued: “Scott McTominay is always going to be Scotland’s main player going into this World Cup and he has been Scotland’s main man for a while now. He’s the poster boy after the career he had at Manchester United, and then followed it up by a fantastic move to Napoli and winning Serie A.

“He does need support from his teammates though, and I think he’s going to get plenty from this Scotland squad. I think John McGinn and Billy Gilmour, who are both brilliant players in their own right, are going to stand up and be counted in the Scotland team this summer and inspire the players around them to perform at the top of their game.

“We have a brilliant midfield three in McTominay, McGinn and Gilmour. These are three big characters that will influence the players around them to grab the games by the scruff of their necks and get some results for Scotland at the World Cup.”