Shankland still harbours hope of playing for Scotland at World Cup
The forward's last international cap was just under a year ago, and he hasn't been included in the squad for upcoming qualifiers.
news.stv.tvHere are the latest updates on Lawrence Shankland:
- Shankland has been dealing with injury concerns at Hearts in early 2026, with reports noting a notable spell on the sidelines that affected his availability for key matches. This has impacted both club form and international considerations.[2][3]
- As of early 2026, there has been sustained interest in Shankland from other clubs, though Hearts have sought to manage his fitness and maintain his contribution for the domestic season.[3][2]
- Shankland remains Hearts' top scorer and a regular feature in their attack when fit, with discussions around his international future continuing given his club form and competition for places in Scotland's forward line.[8][3]
- In terms of international prospects, he has publicly acknowledged that World Cup and European Championship opportunities depend on his club form and fitness, and he continues to stay ready for selection if called up.[3][8]
Illustrative note: A typical season for Shankland blends league goals for Hearts with intermittent injury challenges, which can influence both domestic campaign momentum and national-team selection chatter.
If you’d like, I can dig up the most recent match reports or compile a quick week-by-week update summary with sources. Please tell me your preferred date range or whether you want a focused summary on injuries, club form, or international prospects.