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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Ewan Paton

Hearts 'ready' for all eventualities regarding Lawrence Shankland's future

Steven Naismith insists Hearts are prepared for all eventual outcomes regarding the future of Lawrence Shankland.

The Jambos captain is attracting the interest of clubs across the UK as his red-hot form in front of goal continues.

The Scotland international added two goals to his tally at the weekend as Hearts defeated St Mirren on home soil. The club's next fixture comes at Easter Road in the highly anticipated Edinburgh derby.

Rangers are one of the clubs being touted with a move for Shankland. However, Hearts head coach Naismith is calm about the frontman's situation. 

"He is in a rich vein of form," he told Sky Sports. "When you are doing well there is always interest. The Scottish league is not the league at the top which can decide when players leave or when they don't.

"I think every club in Scotland thinks that at some point players move on, or they don't, we are trying to be progressive but Shanks is a big part of that.

"There is always going to be interest but as a club we are comfortable, we are ready for all eventual outcomes."

Meanwhile, Kieran Dowell has gone from a forgotten man to a central figure for Rangers. Todd Cantwell never doubted his ability to rise to prominence.

Dowell was reunited with his former Norwich City team-mate when he followed in his footsteps and made the move north of the border in the summer. At various points since, he could have been forgiven for regretting his decision.

A promising start to the campaign wasn’t enough to earn him a place in the Europa League squad and the midfielder spent several months out of action as he became one of the first names on the lengthy injury list that has plagued Rangers this term. His patience has paid off, though.

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