LAWRENCE Shankland says he will never treat his selection for Scotland’s World Cup starting XI as a given.
The new Rangers signing has claimed three goals in two warm-up games against Curacao and Bolivia.
With eight strikes in his last nine games for club and country, the former Hearts captain is the form striker in the country and now looks certain to start against Haiti in Scotland’s opening game in Boston in the early hours of Sunday.
After a season when he played in the Hearts side which lost the league to Celtic on the final day, however, Shankland says he has learned take nothing for granted.
“No, never, you never assume anything in football,” he said. “What you can do, when you get the opportunity to go on the pitch, is put your best foot forward and I’ve always said that.
“Every time you go away with Scotland all the boys feel the same.
“You do your best and you try and get into the manager’s head when he needs to make a decision. That’s all you can do.
“I’ve always approached it like that and these friendlies have been good for me.
“I’ve managed to get a few goals and my performances have been decent as well. I’ve been happy with that.
“In terms of what I can control, yes, I’m pleased with the case I can put forward. But I’ll never, ever think I’m certain to play.
“You look at the quality so you can never be presumptuous like that.
“No matter what role you’re asked to play as a striker, everyone feels the same and we have a brilliant squad.
“Whichever role I’m asked to play, I’ll be ready to play it.”
Employing a 4-4-2 formation, Shankland scored twice against Curacao in last week’s Hampden send-off.
Opening the scoring in the Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey, the 30-year-old took his Scotland tally to six goals in 20 appearances.
Torino striker Che Adams also scored twice in a blistering first-half onslaught where the Scots put their South American opponents to the sword, with Scott McTominay scoring the other goal.
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