Scotland coach reveals Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland's Euro 2024 chances - plus other possible call-ups

Preparations are starting to intensify ahead of a big summer in Germany

Lawrence Shankland has a priceless opportunity to establish himself as Scotland's first-choice striker for this summer's European Championship. National coaching staff say they are open-minded about who will start the tournament as their principal attacker, with Hearts captain Shankland competing against Southampton's Ché Adams and Queens Park Rangers' Lyndon Dykes.

Scotland assistant coach John Carver watched Shankland several times in recent months and is impressed by his record of 28 goals in 41 games this season. He is in the squad alongside Adams and Dykes for upcoming friendlies against Netherlands and Northern Ireland as the Scots step up preparations for Germany. Shankland was a late call-up to replace Adams in the previous squad last November, but now he is in the initial group.

Carver stressed that Shankland will get game time over the coming days to show manager Steve Clark his capabilities. "Shanks has got a great opportunity. He has come from nowhere, basically, within the group. He is like the latest addition," said Carver. "He has always been there hanging around but it has always been Dyksey and Ché. Because of how well he has been doing in the league, it might put a bit of pressure on the other two and it might make them perform. They will have to perform to their best and play better.

"I have seen him quite a bit. I have spent a lot of time up here. The one thing about him is he is a goalscorer. He is not going to work the channels or go and press people. He comes alive when the ball comes in the box and that could be a huge asset. With the players we have, if you have someone who likes to score goals, then that’s how you win games - especially tight games like we will have in the Euros.

"It is a great opportunity for him. I talk about competitiveness, and I am digressing a bit here, but I have seen how competitive the four goalkeepers are. We know we can only take three goalkeepers on the plane. I have seen it a little bit with the strikers now because there are three strikers there vying for that position. We haven’t scored too many goals recently, we have conceded quite a few but not scored too many. Shansky might be thinking: 'I’ve got an opportunity here.' I am sure he will get that opportunity over the two games."

A knee injury to Luton Town's Jacob Brown leaves one less competitor for Shankland to worry about. "Absolutely, that’s how it works. That is how [Ryan] Porteous got in, because of the injuries we had before we played Ukraine. It is an opportunity for him, for sure. Like I say, with the dynamic of the team and the way the team play now, we need someone who is going to score goals."

While focus is firmly on the Euros right now, Scotland staff are also conducting some future planning. That means scouting emerging strikers who could challenge for caps after the tournament. One is Ryan Hardie, the Stranraer-born forward who has scored 13 goals in 37 games for English Championship club Plymouth Argyle this season.

"We have had a few people looking at that situation along with many others. I think it is important you never stop looking and searching. That’s how it should be," said Carver. "If people think they are comfortable getting a place in the squad then they become relaxed. So we want to just make sure that there’s a competitive edge at that top end of the field.

"Yeah, we have been to see him [Hardie] and we have watched his performances. You have to, of course you do. We will never stop looking. The young boy [Tommy] Conway at Bristol is another one, but he is doing really well with the Under-21s and they have got a big game coming up. He is one we have been looking at as well. It is good for the future. He is in there and I am guessing he has got around about a dozen goals at least. He scored a great goal against West Ham in the FA Cup. He is another youngster coming through.

"I think we are almost settled on what we are going to take away [to Germany]. I would be very surprised if somebody comes out from nowhere. We are more or less settled. We have an idea what a big figure is and we need to bring that down."

Clark and Carver value loyalty highly and will prioritise that when they name their final 23-man squad for the tournament. "Absolutely. I totally agree with you," said Carver. "Unless we find somebody who is like ‘wow’, an outstanding player. I am not going to go down this street of [Elliot] Anderson and [Anthony] Gordon and all this lot because I have had enough of that, I am sick of talking about that.

"If somebody comes from nowhere I would be very surprised. We are looking at all the options for now and obviously for the future, because we have to take it further again after the Euros."