Lawrence Shankland starts as Steve Clarke names Scotland team to face Netherlands

Lawrence Shankland has been given the chance lead the line for Scotland after Steve Clarke named his team to face Netherlands.

The national team head coach has four matches to run the rule over his players before the Euro 2024 opener against Germany in June, and he’s opted to give a start to the Premiership’s top scorer in a match against top-class opposition at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Clarke has made seven changes from the team that drew 3-3 with Norway at Hampden in Scotland’s last game.

Angus Gunn retruns in goal, behind a back three of Kieran Tierney, Jack Hendry and Ryan Porteous.

Captain Andy Robertson is on the left flank, with Nathan Patterson in the right wing-back role.

Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay look to be the midfield duo, while Ryan Christie and John McGinn appear to be playing in support of Shankland.

🔢 Your Scotland team taking to the Johan Cruijff ArenA pitch tonight.#NEDSCO pic.twitter.com/rA3DbyL1Yw
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) March 22, 2024

Shankland has scored 27 goals in 39 games for Hearts this season as the Tynecastle club have taken a tight grip of third place in the league and progressed to the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

The 28-year-old earned his first cap against Russia in 2019 and scored days later against San Marino. He picked up two more caps in 2020, against Israel and Slovakia, but then dropped out of the international picture.

A return to the fold in 2023 saw the striker make a substitutes appearance against Spain last March and he then scored a late equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Georgia in November before earning his seventh cap against Norway.