Player of Year Lawrence Shankland to have Hearts talks in summer

Hearts skipper Lawrence Shankland will have “conversations” about his future at the end of the season in which he was named PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year.

The 28-year-old striker has scored 28 goals for Hearts as well as one with Scotland this campaign and he picked up his award on Sunday night in Glasgow.

Shankland, who signed a three-year deal with Hearts in 2022, will almost certainly be included in Steve Clarke’s squad for this summer’s European Championship in Germany but will consider his club future after the remaining three cinch Premiership fixtures.

“We will get the rest of the season out of the way,” Shankland told Sky Sports Scotland.

“We have managed to secure our objective at the start of the season and that was third place and Europe again.

“At the end of the season there will be conversations had as there is at the end of every season.

“But I am coming into a position now where I am going into the last season of my contract and conversations will need to be had at some point.

“We will deal with that in the future but for now I will just enjoy this moment.”

Shankland started his career at Queen’s Park and has been up and down the leagues in Scotland with clubs such as Ayr United, Aberdeen and Dundee United before having a spell at Belgian club Beerschot prior to joining Hearts.

He won the League One player of the year award in 2018 as an Ayr United player and he reflected on that after coming top of a Premiership shortlist which also included Celtic’s Matt O’Riley and Rangers duo Jack Butland and James Tavernier.

Shankland said: “I had a think about it and I think it was five or six years ago that I was picking up the League One player of the year in Scotland and I was delighted with that.

“So the journey I have gone on to build myself up to the Premiership and to be voted player of the season – it is a very proud moment.

“Every journey is different for players in their careers and sometimes it is a wee bit up and down and for me it has been, quite a lot.

“But you just need to plod on, keep working hard, work on what you need to work on and hopefully it pays off and you get awards like this.”

Shankland is keen to cap the season off with an appearance at Euro 2024.

He said: “The squad getting extended (to 26) helps your chance of going so fingers crossed I can get a few goals in the last few games and keep my form up and go and look forward to that tournament.

“It is on the horizon now and you can see it.

“Everyone will be looking to stay fit and get through these games and hopefully finish their form well and go into the tournament with a bit of confidence and we can look forward to it.”