Heart of Midlothian

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Lawrence Shankland says "there is a lot to consider" about his Hearts future as he heads into the last year of his contract.

The Scotland striker took his goal tally for the season to 30 with a stunning finish in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with St Mirren.

At the end of the season, the 28-year-old, who is in a "pretty comfortable position" for now, will turn his full focus to the Euros.

But the Hearts forward says there is "a big decision" looming.

"This a place where I’ve been quite admired by everybody at the club and it’s a nice feeling," Shankland told BBC Scotland.

"But as everybody knows I‘m going into the last year of my contract and the summer will probably be the time when conversations will be had between myself and the club.

"We’ve been really honest and open about the situation, everybody knows it. The club made an effort to keep me in January and offered me a contract, but I didn’t feel it was the right time to do it.

"This is a big decision for me and especially for my family. Getting to the age I am I really need to think about them and life after football. There’s a lot to consider, but right now I’m in a place where I’m really liked and that’s a great feeling."

Sportscene pundits Neil McCann and Charlie Mulgrew discuss Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland's stunning 30-goal season and what impact he may have for Scotland at Euro 2024. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views after Hearts secured a 2-2 draw at St Mirren with Lawrence Shankland's 30th goal of the season in stunning style.

Here's what some of you said:

Steve: Surely Tony Sibbick has played his last game for the club, a liability. Shankland shows just how important he is to the club, without him we are a mid-table side. There's no chance of him re-signing, just a matter of when he goes, imagine going into Europe without him. James Wilson looks a real prospect for the future. We desperately need a right-back.

Steven: Lawrence Shankland... don't need to say any more!

Ian: Happy enough with the point after being behind twice. We were sloppy in possession and defence was nowhere for the two goals conceded. On the plus side we scored two very good goals and the heads never went down when behind. Man of the match Shankland just for the goal alone.

Hearts' 30-goal forward Lawrence Shankland deserves more recognition, says head coach Steven Naismith. (Scotsman - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Watch the best of the action of St Mirren and Hearts share four goals in Paisley. (Available to UK users only)

Lawrence Shankland grabbed his 30th Hearts goal of the season in stunning style to rescue a draw against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

The Hearts captain came on as a second-half substitute to shake up a heavily rotated side, and typically came up with a vital moment of brilliance.

After Alex Cochrane's corner was flicked on, Shankland hooked a shot back over his shoulder while facing away from goal, and the ball dropped over St Mirren goalkeeper Zach Hemming.

It was the highlight of a scrappy end-of-season game with nothing at stake, with Hearts having wrapped up third and St Mirren securing fifth and a Europa Conference League spot.

Stephen Robinson's side were the better team for most of the game, starting quickly and getting themselves in front when James Scott hooked in his first for the club.

When Hearts levelled through Kyosuke Tagawa it was against the run of play, and St Mirren were perhaps ruing some of their missed opportunities.

That was until Caolan Boyd-Munce whipped in a brilliant cross from the left for James Bolton, who nodded the home side back in front.

But it was fitting that Shankland, having had such a dream season, got to number 30 in such style, emphasising his importance to Hearts.

Were you at SMiSA Stadium or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.

Hearts manager Steven Naismith: "It was a game you could tell both teams were playing with freedom. I was pleased with a lot of the passing and braver passes.

"Everybody wanted the ball. We go behind and the goals, we could do better with those. But it's a strength of St Mirren to put the ball in the box and commit, and we get caught with that.

"But our reaction was really good. We get one back quite quickly both times we went behind and that's been one of the most pleasing aspects of the season.

"It's a brilliant instinctive finish [from Lawrence Shankland]. It's that touch in the box that sets him apart. He's got that finesse and nice composed touch.

"It's an incredible record. His goal return over the last two years has been brilliant. He's picking up the awards, which has been fantastic.

"The magnitude of what he's achieve, people won't realise it until further down the line."

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Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

The fact Lawrence Shankland started on the bench told you there was nothing in stake in this game. But try telling him that.

He was desperate to become the first Hearts player since John Robertson in 1987-88 to score 30 goals in a single season.

He's done it, and his highlights reel is special too. Whether it's right foot, left foot, headers, inside the box or outside, he has scored nearly every type of goal.

This one was a pearler, finding the bottom corner blind. It has been a spectacular season from Shankland, he has been the main reason Hearts have coasted to third place and Europa League football.

Hearts make five changes against St Mirren as Lawrence Shankland starts on the bench, while Stephen Kingsley is injured. Beni Baningime is out of the squad and Kenneth Vargas and Barrie McKay are on the bench.

They're replaced by Toby Sibbick, Frankie Kent, Aidan Denholm, Scott Fraser, and Kyosuke Tagawa.

Liam Boyce is among the substitutes for the first time since 2 December.

• Follow the action

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• St Mirren have only won two of their last 10 league games against Hearts (D2 L6), losing both of their last two in a row.

• Hearts have only lost one of their last six league away games at St Mirren (W3 D2), winning 2-1 most recently in April.

• Excluding the curtailed 2019-20 season, St. Mirren have only won their final home game in two of their last 13 top-flight league campaigns (D5 L6), and lost their last such game last term 0-3 to Rangers.

• Hearts have lost their final away game in five of their last six Scottish Premiership seasons (incl. curtailed 2019-20), although the exception was last season, when they drew 2-2 at Rangers.

• Ryan Strain has scored in all three of his home games in the Scottish Premiership for St. Mirren against Hearts (three goals), the most he has scored against a single side in the competition.

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St Mirren are missing Jonah Ayunga (knee) and Kwon Hyeok-kyu (hamstring) for the rest of the season.

Hearts will be without Jorge Grant through illness and Stephen Kingsley due to a nerve issue in his leg, while Calem Nieuwenhof, Liam Boyce (both hamstring), Craig Halkett and Peter Haring (both knee) all remain sidelined.

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Hearts head coach Steven Naismith wants his players to revel in their current situation and finish the season on a real high.

The Tynecastle side secured a third-place league finish earlier this month and cruised to a 3-0 win over Dundee last time out.

Despite there being little on the line for the Jambos when they face St Mirren on Wednesday, Naismith hopes his side can build on that performance against Dundee.

"We’re looking forward to it because of the result and the performance at the weekend,” Naismith said. “It was really enjoyable. It’s not very often you get three weeks of the season to go, where you’ve hit your targets already.

"The next part was to find the enjoyment and I think we did that at the weekend, and we’ve got another opportunity to do that again tomorrow night."

Hearts beat St Mirren 2-1 on their last visit to Paisley, but Naismith expects a tough test against Stephen Robinson's side, who themselves look set for European football.

"The last game (in Paisley) was spoiled a bit by the wind, but we managed to grind it out and do what it takes to get the win," Naismith said. "I think this time there will be a bit more football played, but in terms of the team that we’re coming up against, they’re well-drilled and well-organised.

"They’ve got a good system that they play, and I think you can see that they’ve been together for some time as a squad.

"They’re a good footballing team, which I think goes unnoticed a bit. They’ve always got players on the attack, happy to commit bodies forward.

"Stephen (Robinson) has done a brilliant job over the years to steadily build, get them into the top six and potentially Europe, which would be a massive achievement. We know it’s not going to be easy, but we think we can cause them problems."

You couldn’t have asked for more from last Saturday’s 3-0 home victory against Dundee. It was a perfect day out.

Firstly, we were treated to the return of Craig Gordon between the sticks. A clean sheet for the veteran stopper can only help his confidence before this summer's Euros.

I also thought Alex Cochrane and Barrie McKay combined well throughout the match, especially for the opening goal. Cochrane freed up McKay to turn ex-Jambo Jordan McGhee inside out before playing a delightful ball through to Kenneth Vargas.

I also said last week that it would be great if we could play younger players during the final few games, and Naismith sent on 17-year-old attacker James Wilson mid-way through the second half.

He appears to have bulked up from his debut earlier this season and applied himself well. Naismith even said that Wilson will get his chance in pre-season and likely be involved with the first team squad next campaign, which will hopefully be a boost for all young players in the Hearts academy.

Lawrence Shankland was in the goals again and now sits on 29 club goals this season. I think every Jambo wants him to get to 30 before the end of the season.

If we take something from Rangers and win against St Mirren in our final two games, that will mean we will finish closer to second place than fourth, which would really cement Hearts' ‘best of the rest’ tag.

Regardless of the outcome of the two results this week, I’m sure the team will be well received after the game on Saturday. It will be well deserved after their efforts this season, which has to be considered a success with two cup semi-final appearances and the strong league campaign.

Greg Playfair can be found on the Oor Wee Chat podcast, external.

With third spot already secured, Hearts can enjoy their trip to St Mirren on Wednesday night without too much pressure.

But who should make Steven Naismith's starting line-up?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your XI here.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Lawrence Shankland's goal against Dundee - his 30th of the season.

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Hearts cruised past Dundee on Saturday, and have two players in my team of the week.

Kye Rowles was consistent at the back and the Australian international contributed well to another clean sheet for Hearts.

Up the other end, Barrie McKay turned in an eye-catching display. On his day he has the vision and class to make all the difference.

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Hearts head coach Steven Naismith has backed young striker James Wilson to be a "big player" for the club moving forwards.

The 17-year-old made his league debut in Saturday's 3-0 win over Dundee, and Naismith says he has had to work hard for the opportunity.

“Young players will get opportunities here but they are not just going to get given opportunities for the sake of it,” Naismith said.

“James has had to be patient, he’s been frustrated at times that he’s not had a chance and not been able to get in but I’ve lived it as a young player and I understand it.

“If he goes in too early his confidence can take a drop which then takes four months to get back to where he was.

“We need him to have a steady rise and going forward he will be a big player like Macaulay Tait and Aidan Denholm this season.”

Watch highlights as Hearts beat Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

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Barrie McKay says he doesn't want this season to end after the Hearts winger played a starring role in Saturday's 3-0 win over Dundee.

The 29-year-old has been limited to just 14 appearances in all competitions in an injury-hit campaign, but he looked back to his best against Dundee, setting up two of the goals.

“It’s been a difficult season," he told BBC Scotland. "With injury, then coming back and the injury again.

"Hopefully I’ve seen the end of it now and I’m enjoying my football. [The season's end] is probably coming at the wrong time for me but the boys have been brilliant.

“I’m just glad I can come in now and help out."