Shankland should go to Euros 'without question'
- Published
Lawrence Shankland. Jacob Brown. Oli McBurnie.
Three strikers with ambitions of stealing a spot on the plane to Germany when Scotland jet off for Euro 2024, and three strikers who scored for their clubs this weekend.
Who out of the trio should be foremost in Steve Clarke's plans? It can only be the Hearts man, according to BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on the Scottish Football Podcast.
"Shankland offers something different, he's a natural goalscorer, different to the strikers that he will be bringing. Right now, Shankland without question.
"McBurnie got 15 goals last season, which is good. He's got two in his last two, one was a penalty. I'm not going anywhere near Oli McBurnie just yet. He hasn't done it for Scotland, he's had loads of chances.
"Jacob Brown, obviously Steve Clarke rates him higher than he rates Lawrence Shankland. First Premier League goal at the weekend. Actually converted a chance that was very similar to the chance that he missed against Norway."
Brown has failed to impress The Athletic's Jordan Campbell, who also told the Scottish Football Podcast that the Hearts captain should be the one heading for Germany.
"Brown didn't impress me that much when he started in the last international camp. I thought his hold up play was a bit lacking, but again, you're turning up your nose at a guy who's scoring in the English Premier League.
"I think at international level, you need goalscorers. If you have a chance, and if you've got 20 minutes left, you're bringing on Shankland because you back him to make it count.
"I think with the absence of natural goalscorers, Shankland's got to be the one in the pole position for me."
