Lawrence Shankland makes one thing clear on Hearts future after Neil Critchley admission

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Lawrence Shankland’s Hearts future is not decided after all.

Jambos boss Neil Critchley insisted last week that contract talks would be held with Shankland, whose deal is up at the end of the season as it stands.

It had been expected the 29-year-old would leave Tynecastle after refusing to sign the terms on offer from the club last year and then failing to return to the negotiating table.

CEO Andrew McKinlay hinted Shankland would be leaving and comments from the player previously suggested the same.

Former captain Michael Stewart branded Hearts ‘mental’ for not still having a contract on offer for their captain and number nine.

After scoring over 50 goals across his first two seasons he has just four this campaign with his form struggling. His performances have recently improved although he has been more of a provider than a scorer, laying on two assists for Elton Kabangu against St Johnstone at the weekend.

Levels of interest that may have been there previously may have dwindled and it now looks like there is at least a decent chance of Shankland staying put.

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Shankland has say on Hearts future

Off the back of Critchley’s comments about his future, Shankland has now had his own say.

He insists it is normal for anyone in his situation to hold talks with their club about thoughts on what should happen in the future, in other words is there a desire to stay or part ways.

With a busy week, Hearts are at home to St Mirren on Wednesday and away to Hibs on Sunday after that St Johnstone game, he expects talks to be on hold until after that.

He told the Edinburgh Evening News: “I think it will be the situation with everybody who is out of contract, and it gets to a stage in the season where conversations do need to be had – whether you’re staying or you’re going and the club’s plans for the future.

“I wouldn’t read into it too much, but I imagine the conversations will happen at some point. I think we’ll be looking to get this week out of the way first and deal with that.”

Asked if he was open to staying in Gorgie, Shankland went on: “I’ve never said that I wouldn’t stay. They offered me a contract in January 2024, so that’s a long time ago.

“We’ve not really spoken about it since and we’ve just got on with things. At the time, the club and myself were comfortable with the situation going forward and whatever happens, happens.

“We’ll see. It’s at that point – there’s nothing too deep about it. We’ll just see what happens going forward.”

Shankland on new Hearts role

Critchley has tweaked the formation in recent games, opting to play with a 4-4-2 diamond rather than the flat midfield he went with before, or sometimes 4-2-3-1.

Shankland has played as a ‘number 10’ behind a striker before, but is now at the tip of that diamond behind a pairing of Kabangu and James Wilson.

On his new role, he said: “I’ve played a bit of it in the early seasons I’ve been here, but this is probably the first time I’ve been secured to a midfield role.

“I was playing just off the striker before, it is similar obviously, but it’s certainly different defensively. I’ve had to learn a couple of things, which has been good. It’s always good to learn a new role and if I keep churning my assists then I’m doing my job.

“I’m maybe not the type of player that other players are as No.10s. I’m a wee bit different. Of course, when you watch games like that you get an idea of what a No.10 requires – getting in the position and getting on the half-turn and providing chances for the strikers is part of the job.

“Thankfully, I’ve managed to do that on Sunday and we get the win as a result of that.”