Shankland on 'fresh start' after break and focus on beating Rangers

The striker spoke about the opportunity Hearts have for silverware, his return to goal-scoring form and his Scotland hopes.

Read everything he said below:

How excited is the squad for this game? It's a huge opportunity, isn't it?

It is. The chance to go to Hampden and play in a semi-final doesn’t come along too often, but thankfully we’ve got ourselves in that position to go and play in one. So, we’re all looking forward to it. Recent performances have been getting better as well, there’s been a lot more positives for us across maybe the last five or six games. Results have maybe not gone the way we wanted in some games but performances have been getting better. So, we can go into this game with confidence.

The win on Wednesday night, was it important to have that win as a springboard going into the game?

Yes, you obviously want to go into it in good form. The performance at Ibrox was pleasing for 90-odd minutes and then we let ourselves down a bit there. But I felt it was important on Wednesday, especially at home, that we got a win. The performance overall was really good as well. It was a frustrating night at times, but if you let that get the better of you it sometimes leads into a bad result. But we controlled the game, managed it really well and we were patient in terms of what we had to do to get the goal.

Was there any sense of a hangover from the game at Ibrox during the week?

Of course. It’s a frustration when you had your grasp on such a good result and then just a silly decision on our part causes us the problem. Then, the added time gives them the chance to go and get all the momentum behind them and the atmosphere’s behind them, and everything swings their way. But the thing for us was that for 90 minutes of the game it went how we wanted it to go.

You've got the blueprint for Hampden?

That’s it. We need to look at that and take the positives and the things we did well, and try to implement that at the weekend.

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You've won trophies at Ayr United and Dundee United but in terms of a major trophy is that still something you are longing for?

Of course. You want to win trophies in your career. Whatever level you play at, it’s always an achievement to win whatever you win. But obviously to win a major trophy would be great and something to remember from your career. But I’m not getting too ahead of myself. I’m going to concentrate on this semi-final first and hopefully we can get through it.

There have been a number of trips to Hampden in recent years, is this the next step for Hearts to lift the silverware?

Hopefully. For me, personally, it will be my first trip to Hampden with Hearts because we missed out last season in both cups. That was disappointing. I’m really looking forward to it myself. Getting the chance to lead a team out at Hampden is something to be proud of in your career. I’m looking forward to that and hopefully I can lead the boys to a win.

As a captain it must be a dream to lift the cup?

Of course. You want to go and lift a trophy, but the task in hand first is Rangers in a semi-final and that’s going to be a tough one. But we’ll look to get through this one and give ourselves a chance.

What's your Hampden record like?

I’ve played at Hampden in the lower leagues and I played against Hibs for Dundee United during Covid [May 2021]. We got beat 2-0 in a Scottish Cup semi - but that doesn’t count, because nobody was there!

Any talks with Craig Gordon on who lifts the trophy?

We’re not looking that far ahead! Craig’s been back in with the group and joining in, so he needs to get some game-time himself. He’s taking care of himself and I’ll concentrate on the task in hand, and just now that’s a semi-final. Hopefully we can get through and we have that dilemma.

Is it important going into a game this size and having someone like Craig there to help with advice on the captain's role?

Craig just does it himself on the sidelines anyway. It is easier now that he is back involved with the group. He spent a long time out, working by himself in the gym but he is back amongst us.

Do you have to do anything different as a captain in cup week?

Probably not. These kinds of games take care of themselves. The biggest part was the other night. That was an important game for us. Boys take confidence from wins so that’s where I try to go out and set an example on the pitch.

How aware are the squad of the club’s league cup record and the fact they have never beaten Rangers at Hampden?

I wasn’t aware of that! But it’s got to change at some points. These things always come to an end and hopefully that will be this weekend for us and we can go and change that.

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How big was the international break to have some time off because you didn't have much of a summer break?

To be fair the manager gave me some days off during that international break and I just spent time with the family. There was a lot going on with a new arrival in the house so there was a lot going on in the back of my mind that you maybe don’t take notice of until you do kind of take a step away. So I got a wee break and when I came back to training I felt like I had a clean slate and fresh start in my mind.

How much will games like Sunday, big crowd, TV, impact getting back into the Scotland squad?

I like to think that every game matters but these ones are the big occasions and they bring the headlines and headlights. I have been playing well recently and I had a good performance at Ibrox as well and I can take confidence from that and hopefully lead the boys to a victory.

How big a deal would it be if you could get into the squad for Germany?

Of course it would be massive. I missed out on the last one and that wasn’t ideal because you always want to be involved but it is what it is. I always say the same thing but I will concentrate on my club football and if I’m doing well, then that all takes care of itself when it comes to the international camps. If you are in the manager’s thoughts, that’s all you can do.

How hard was it watching from the outside when the games at Euro 2020 came around?

Of course it is. You want to be involved but once the squad is picked, the squad’s picked and there’s nothing you can do. In football you learn to get over things quickly. There are too many ups and downs over the years that I’ve had myself so I tend to deal with things like that pretty easily.

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Do you think you a better footballer than last time Scotland were at the Euros?

Probably, aye. I have had a lot of experiences and Hearts are the biggest club I’ve played for and there has been a lot of responsibility, and the captaincy as well. It has been a big learning curve since I’ve been here but I do feel I have improved as a person and a footballer.

Has your game changed a lot? When you were younger you seemed to be seen as just a goalscorer?

Through the years people who thought that just hadn’t worked with me. Everybody that had worked with me seemed to understand what kind of player I was and that I could do more than just be a poacher. Obviously as you go through the levels and get moves people seem to give you more recognition but I do think overall I have improved. I always had the goalscoring but my overall play outside the box probably has improved. I always did have that but I probably just needed to get better.

Your name has been linked with Rangers recently, is that something that is the back of your head before this game?

Not at all. My mind is on putting Rangers out the cup. That’s what we need to do this weekend and that’s what I’m looking to do.

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