Image source, SNSLawrence Shankland sits down for an in depth interview with Brian McLauchlin about his journey from amateur football and working outside the game to scoring for Scotland.
In an open and frank conversation he discusses the ‘sliding doors moment’ that led to his career changing move to Ayr United, his ‘difficult’ spell in Belgium, becoming Hearts captain and dealing with transfer speculation.
Midfielder Jorge Grant says it's important players joining Hearts "understand that we have to try to win trophies". (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external
Image source, SNSJorge Grant isn't anticipating roses and rainbows when Hearts head to Cappielow - expected to house Greenock Morton's highest home attendance in over 40 years.
The Tynecastle side travel west for a Scottish Cup quarter-final clash with the second-tier outfit, live on BBC Scotland on Monday evening.
Having already knocked out Premiership Motherwell in front of a raucous crowd in the previous round, another intimidating atmosphere is expected at one of Scottish football's most character-filled crowds.
But Grant says the conditions won't shock him, and his Hearts teammates must deal with their surroundings to reach Hampden.
“I have played in the lower leagues in England and it’s all like that anyway," the midfielder said. "It’s probably not going to be a culture shock to me but it might be to some others.
“But we wouldn’t expect anything less, you would expect it to be a horrible game and they are going to try and get on top of us and make it difficult for us.
“That’s what a cup tie is about. We just have to deal with it.
“We have watched loads of them in the last few days. It’s important that we do our homework on them and make sure we are ready for what comes.
“We know what they can bring but it’s more about us and what we do – how we deal with what they have but also bring our own game.”
Lawrence Shankland on achieving Scotland dream alongside Andy Robertson
Rangers will have to break the record transfer fee between two Scottish clubs if they want to sign Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland this summer, with Hearts demanding more than the reported £4.4m Celtic paid Hibernian for Scott Brown in 2007 for the 28-year-old. (Football Insider), external
Steven Naismith says there is no chance he would jump at the first chance to leave Tynecastle so early into his spell as Hearts head coach after one report claimed the 37-year-old has caught the attention of Millwall. (Daily Record), external
Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Image source, SNSHearts captain Lawrence Shankland discusses his footballing ambitions and his love for Hearts
Image source, SNSHearts head coach Steven Naismith is determined to banish previous bad memories at Cappielow when his side face Greenock Morton in the Scottish Cup on Monday.
Naismith was part of the Kilmarnock side knocked out of the cup at Cappielow in 2007, and is determined to learn from that experience as a manager.
“It’s a memory still with me now," he said. "It was probably the first time I experienced a manager going mental.
"It wasn’t a good day, but it stood me in good stead because I went on to win both cups in Scotland. I don’t want to experience it again.
“You don’t go mental now at players as that doesn’t happen. It’s definitely something that I have used this week to let everybody know. This isn’t us in the Premiership, third in the league, doing really well and it’s going to be nice and pretty.
“That’s not going to happen. This is going to be a cup tie they believe they can cause an upset. We need to guard against that. I don’t want the feeling I had after that cup tie so you use it all to make sure you are prepared and ready for the game.”
Naismith insists that while the club's progression can be judged by their league position, there is nothing that compares to the elation of winning a trophy.
“The demand is that we get to later rounds of cups," he added. The team has made really good strides and we’ve progressed in loads of ways but the best way we can show that is by winning silverware.
“If you win a trophy the enjoyment, the aftermath, the party, celebrating it all is amazing. That extends to the fans, and in 20 years they remember these moments.
"Finishing third and getting into Europe - that’s the long-term progression, but you don’t have the same tangible feeling of winning a trophy."
Image source, SNSHearts head coach Steven Naismith has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Cup quarter-final away to Greenock Morton on Monday, live on BBC Scotland.
Here are the key points from his press conference:
Naismith is expecting a "proper cup tie", and says they need to go in with the "right frame of mind". He believes it will be a similar "dynamic" to Hearts' last two Scottish Cup outings with the game again being against lower-league opposition.
Doesn't expect Hearts to have everything their own way at Cappielow, but challenged his players to put their stamp on the game and start quickly.
Says the team have progressed this season, but the best way to show that is with silverware. "That’s what we have to strive to get to." Finishing third and getting into Europe are both great achievements, but they don't bring the same elation as wining a trophy.
Craig Gordon will start the game in goal, with his only two appearances this season also coming in the Scottish Cup.
Naismith recalled being knocked out of the Scottish Cup at Cappielow as a Kilmarnock player in 2007. Says the memories of that day remain with him now, and he doesn't want to experience it again.
In terms of team news, Calem Nieuwenhof will miss the next few weeks, Frankie Kent remains out, Yutaro Oda has a "small issue" and is unavailable for Monday, but Kenenth Vargas has trained and is in contention to play.
Heart of Midlothian chair Ann Budge admits the Scottish Premiership club and Lawrence Shankland are still not "close" to agreeing a contract extension for the 28-year-old Scotland striker but talks are ongoing. (Daily Record), external
Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Image source, SNSHearts travel to Cappielow to face Morton - the only Championship side left in the Scottish Cup.
Steven Naismith will be hoping to avoid any sort of cup upset and keep the momentum from last weekend's victory over Celtic.
Who should be in the starting lineup for Monday? Pick your XI here.
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSCraig Gordon still hopes to go the Euro 2024 finals this summer with Scotland despite experiencing the frustration of sitting on Heart of Midlothian's bench since returning from a year out with a broken leg.
The 41-year-old goalkeeper has played just twice - against Spartans and Airdrieonians in the Scottish Cup - but could be in line to face Greenock Morton in Monday's quarter-final.
"I want to play as many games as possible," Gordon said. "We still have nine games lefty in the league and we have the cup game on Monday.
"I have played the last two rounds, so hopefully I will get the nod this time in that one."
For league games, head coach Steven Naismith has stuck by Zander Clark, who had been Gordon's understudy until the veteran's injury but whose form has led to a place in the national squad.
"I'm focused on myself," Gordon added. "I want to go out there and perform at every opportunity. Hopefully that’s Monday.
"I’m training to get myself ready for that and, if selected, to go out and put on a good shadow and catch the eye of the Scotland manager. That's a huge thing I would like to be part of.
"I feel as if I am training really well. My body is in a good place, so all I can do is be ready. I feel as if I’ve been doing that and taking my opportunities."
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, BBC SportAnn Budge (centre, back) was at the launch of the Maroon Mile heritage trail project
Heart of Midlothian lifting the Scottish Cup as the club celebrates its 150th anniversary would be the "icing on the cake" for chairperson Ann Budge.
It would also be a decade since Budge, who has now transferred her majority shareholding to the fans through the Foundation of Hearts, became the owner of the Scottish Premiership club.
Hearts, who visit Championship side Greenock Morton in Monday's quarter-final, last lifted the trophy in 2012, when they defeated city rivals Hibernian 5-1, but have also been runners-up in three of the past five seasons.
"I’ve been there a few times," Budge said. "I dream of winning at Hampden.
"That would absolutely be the icing on the cake for a number of us here. It's continuous improvement that's important, but to win would be fantastic."
Budge was speaking at an event to launch plans for a one-mile-long heritage trail to coincide with the club's anniversary.
The Maroon Mile project has secured funding of £207,339 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and is expected to take 18 months to complete.
Heart of Midlothian head coach Steven Naismith is aware of reports linking him to Millwall but says nobody from the Championship club has contacted him. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland
Hearts' win over Celtic at the weekend may have come in controversial circumstances, but there can be no doubt the performance was way better than that shown earlier in the week against Rangers and Hibernian.
The message pre-match from Steven Naismith was clear. They had had to improve their work rate if they were to come anywhere near a Celtic team who knew a victory would take them back to the top of the table. And they certainly delivered.
From Zander Clark in goal all the way through to the main man Lawrence Shankland, they worked their socks off and showed the supporters the previous two matches were mere blips.
To beat either Rangers or Celtic at any time you need an element of good fortune and some contentious refereeing decisions to go your way. That was evident again on Sunday.
Hearts have now won the same number of league matches as they did last season, with nine matches still to play.
With third place all but guaranteed and a shot once again in Europe the task now is to bring the Scottish Cup back to Tynecastle.
After already swatting aside two lower-league opponents, they now face another trip to a Championship side on Monday night, as they face Greenock Morton live on BBC Scotland.
Morton have had a real rollercoaster season but now sit in a promotion play-off spot in what has been a highly competitive league.
But if Hearts perform at their best then a semi-final at Hampden should await with dreams of cup success in May becoming more realistic.
Greg Playfair
Fan writer
Hearts thoroughly deserved their 2-0 victory at home to Celtic on Sunday and I believe would have won even if Celtic had 11 players on the pitch for the duration.
Head coach Steven Naismith deserves enormous praise for his tactics and approach over the course of the match, and in the first 10 minutes, it was all Hearts. There was something in the Tynecastle atmosphere and you could sense Celtic weren’t up for the fight.
I know Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers focused on VAR John Beaton for his performance on Sunday, but the man who should be copping flack was referee Don Robertson.
It’s staggering how Robertson saw fit to award Celtic a penalty for Alex Cochrane's coming together with Yang Hyun-Jun, and thankfully Zander Clark saved it.
Yang's red card challenge occurred not long after the penalty save, and it’s a sending off in the modern game. I find it laughable when people say there was no malice in the challenge - he might not have meant to, but he kicked Alex Cochrane in the face.
I would be unhappy if our own penalty was awarded against Hearts, but I could write a book on the refereeing decisions that have gone against Hearts against Celtic in the 21st century. I’ll take good fortune whenever it’s presented to me.
The standout player in maroon was undoubtedly Calem Nieuwenhof. He covered every blade of grass and I’m glad his unfortunate slip led to our most iconic assist of the season as he teed up Lawrence Shankland to net the second of the game.
Shankland is the best striker in Scotland without doubt and I hope people realise how good we have it at the moment with him spearheading our attack. I hope he also gets the chance to do so for Scotland as I know he can replicate this form on the international stage.
With Morton next in the Scottish Cup and a chance to get to Hampden, I’m excited for our quarter-final trip to Cappielow. It’s a ground I’m looking forward to ticking off and no doubt the atmosphere will be as fervent as their previous tie against Motherwell.
While it is a potential banana skin, I’m confident we will edge the encounter given our away form this season.
Greg Playfair can be found on the OorWeeChat podcast, external.
Former Hearts and Scotland winger Neil McCann believes Tynecastle striker Lawrence Shankland deserves to start for Scotland (UK only).
Celtic intend to appeal against Yang Hyun-jun's red card in Sunday's 2-0 Scottish Premiership defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle.
At 0-0, Yang was initially shown a yellow card for a high boot on Alex Cochrane but it was upgraded to a red by referee Don Robertson following VAR intervention. Celtic played the remaining 74 minutes with 10 players.
In a statement, the club confirmed they have also written to the Scottish FA "to raise our serious concerns regarding the use of VAR and the decisions made within the match".
A VAR-awarded penalty was converted by Jorge Grant for Hearts' opener and both sides had goals ruled out for offside. Celtic were awarded a penalty before the Yang dismissal but Adam Idah's effort was saved.
Image source, SNSYang (right) was sent off in the 16th minute
