Lawrence Shankland: Why is Hearts striker not in Scotland squad?

However, that form has never truly been rewarded with a run in Clarke’s side.

For some, it is difficult to imagine an Old Firm striker with Shankland’s record being denied a place in the squad.

Sure, there have been call-ups, caps – 16 of them – and three goals, but he has started just four games.

There is not just one reason for that and some of them we will never know.

What we do know is any player hoping to play in this side is trying to break into the best Scotland team in almost three decades.

That is not easy, especially when you factor in that Clarke regularly plays with just one striker, which has mostly been Adams or Dykes.

Former Southampton striker Adams, who has 10 Scotland goals in 41 caps, has been playing and scoring in the English and Italian top tiers over the past six years.

Dykes, for all his critics, has been an integral part of Clarke’s success since switching his allegiance to Scotland, scoring nine times in 44 appearances, and offers a different physical presence.

The devotion Clarke has shown to players like Dykes is something he often faces scrutiny for, but the Scotland boss does not hide his loyalty. In fact, Shankland has been a beneficiary of that.

The Hearts man had scored just once by November last season when Clarke selected him in a squad. “I’ll tell him I still love him,” the Scotland boss said with a smile on his face when questioned about his inclusion.

He has not been picked since, but his club boss says the prospect of being involved in a World Cup next summer must continue to drive the striker.

“The motivation for Lawrence, and for all players hoping to be involved with Scotland, is the World Cup,” McInnes said. “That has to be the goal.”

Whether Clarke’s side will be there – and Shankland’s potential role – is a story that will be told in the coming months.