Shankland not looking at Euro 2024 as Hearts remain focus

Flights were being priced, hotels were being booked and that dream was becoming a reality. The Tartan Army will have started the countdown for June 14 and what will be a special evening in Munich.

As for the players, squad regulars, on the fringes or promising prospects, the next six months will be defining as they look to convince Clarke they warrant a space in the 23-man squad.

READ MORE: Upturn in away form, stick from fans, Rangers test and Euros draw - Shankland Q&A

One of those who falls into the first category is Lawrence Shankland even if he has originally been left out of the last two squads. On Saturday, as the draw was taking place, he was sat in the Rugby Park press room fielding questions about getting a call-up come the tournament after another important contribution in a 1-0 Hearts win. While Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes was eager to finish his press duties before the draw started, Shankland was relaxed. Unfussed even. A level-headed individual, he wasn't getting carried away.

He revealed he hadn't looked at the Scotland Whatsapp and had not even had a glance at the pots to see the potential opposition.

"I actually haven't," he said. "I wasn't even meant to be in the last squad so I don't look ahead too much! Just go with the flow.

"You know the opposition at the tournament. That is something I will let all you get excited about but I will just deal with football just now and when the time comes I'll deal with it."

Shankland, who has 11 goals for the season for Hearts, is well aware of how things within football can change from week to week and month to month. His second goal for his country, the header in Georgia, arrived despite not having been in the initial squad. 

It's why he won't be getting distracted by a tournament which is "absolutely miles away for me".

"I will stick to the here and now and try to perform for Hearts, better than the second half on Saturday hopefully," he laughed. "If I can keep performing or getting myself on the scoresheet it gives me the best chance when that comes round.

"But it's really long down the road and will deal with it at the time."

While he didn't find the back of the net in Saturday's 1-0 win, it was his fine play which led to the goal, a cross being diverted into the net by Kilmarnock goalkeeper Will Dennis. He did note that he doesn't think "goalie wants it, to be fair, so I will take it".

Shankland, who was the target of stick from the home fans owing to his Ayr United past, knows just how difficult a venue Rugby Park, even more so when the surface was as slippy as it was.

READ MORE: How Hearts continue to change opinion and now ready for next step to end hoodoos

"It’s a tough place to come," he said. "Kilmarnock make you defend and they are good at it. That’s how they get success, particularly at home. It’s a result we can be proud of. We stood up to it in the second half and we defended when we needed to. We were solid and we found a way to win the game and that’s important.

"I think it’s evident in the number of people who are slipping when going for balls. It can be hard to read at times. But it’s been here for years now and you just have to deal with it on the day, whether it’s in the summer and it’s really dry or if it’s really slippy. It’s a mixed bag, what you get with it. But I felt we dealt with it well.

"We probably had to play a little more safe than usual and get rid of things at times and try to play in the opposition half. I think it was a factor in the quality of the game in total but we can leave here happy. We got the result we came here for.

He added: "That’s four wins on the trot now. That shows we are starting to find the way to win games and to do it regularly. That’s important that week in week out you are finding ways to win football matches."