Lawrence Shankland says his Rangers reunion with Derek McInnes can wait while Scotland prepare for their World Cup group match against Brazil in Miami.
The 30-year-old striker joined Rangers from Hearts earlier this summer and is due to work again under McInnes once Scotland’s campaign in the United States is over.
For now, Shankland has made clear that his attention is on Steve Clarke’s squad and the scale of Tuesday night’s assignment at Hard Rock Stadium. He started Scotland’s opening game against Haiti, was an unused substitute against Morocco, and is pushing to stay in Clarke’s thinking for the Brazil test.
In The Scottish Sun interview, Shankland said he had seen the news of McInnes’ Rangers appointment while away with Scotland and was pleased for both the manager and himself, but added that the club picture is at the back of his mind until he returns home.
Rangers wait comes after Brazil test
That stance matters for Rangers because Shankland is expected to be a central figure in McInnes’ first Ibrox pre-season. Their Hearts relationship gives the new manager an immediate reference point in attack, but the striker still has a major international job to handle first.
Scotland face Brazil in heat and humidity in Florida, with Shankland stressing that the squad must concentrate on their roles rather than the occasion. For Rangers, the useful part is simple: their new striker is already talking like a player determined to separate the noise from the next task.
