The Numbers Behind the Omission

68 goals across three seasons. 11 goal contributions in his last 10 Premiership matches. Yet Hearts' talismanic captain Lawrence Shankland (30) remains conspicuously absent from Steve Clarke's Scotland squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Belarus.

Shankland celebrates becoming SPFL's all-time top scorer - but still can't crack Scotland's lineup

Tactical Conundrum for Clarke

Scotland's 4-2-3-1 system prioritizes:

• Physical hold-up play (Dykes' aerial dominance: 63% duel success)
• High-press capability (Adams' 12.3 km/match average)
• Youth development (23-year-old Bowie's emergence)

Shankland's clinical finishing (83% shot accuracy) and creative output (2.3 key passes/game) present compelling arguments. However, Clarke emphasizes squad continuity: "The forwards from our last camp delivered exactly what we needed."

Historical Context of Omissions

• Only 4 Scottish Premiership-based outfield players in 26-man squad
• Last SPFL striker to start competitive match: Leigh Griffiths (2019)
• Hearts' league position (1st) vs selection bias toward English leagues

Path to Redemption

Shankland must:

• Maintain 1.1 goals/90min ratio in European competitions
• Improve defensive contribution (0.7 tackles/game vs Dykes' 2.1)
• Capitalize on potential injuries during qualifiers

Hearts manager Derek McInnes remains optimistic: "When you're breaking records and leading the line for table-toppers, international recognition becomes inevitable."