'We'd soon realise how much Shankland does when he's not in the team'

Hearts have entered December still rooted to the bottom of the league table and the question is, at what point do Jambos concede that we are involved in a relegation battle?

People will argue we've had three tough fixtures including playing the league's top two sides at home sandwiched in between a tough European trip to Cercle Brugge but at what point are supporters of the club supposed to be worried?

There's no doubt that there is quality in this side, and a lot of people in Scottish football media said in the summer that this was the third best squad in the country, so it can be said that a number of the players are underperforming.

We can't talk about drop-offs in form without mentioning Lawrence Shankland. I think some of the flack he took after the Cercle Brugge penalty miss and defeat was way over the top. Still, one goal in 21 games for Hearts this season is worrying and it needs to be addressed.

If I was Neil Critchley, I'd be tempted to take Shankland out of the team for a number of reasons. Firstly, I think he needs to be unburdened with the pressure of expectation.

I also think he is over analysed in terms of his body language and how he communicates on the pitch. When things aren't going well, every little facet is questioned. To be fair, at 1-0 down against Aberdeen, he was the only player I saw with their head held high, encouraging others in a maroon jersey.

The final point is, I think we'd soon come to realise how much Shankland does for us when he's not in the team. The drop-off between him and the rest of our strikers is the biggest disparity in any side in our league. It might perhaps also help ignite a desire in him to show his doubters what he can produce. I remember the last time that happened, was in the 4-3 home defeat to Celtic a couple of seasons ago and he netted a hat-trick from the bench.

This month is going to be tricky, but we've got three out of the next four league games at Tynecastle and we really need to make home advantage count - seven points from nine in those games I reckon, starting with a win against Dundee on Saturday.