Celtic star provides Lawrence Shankland backing as Hearts striker earns 'top quality' defence after miss

The Hearts striker has had backing from a man at Celtic Park.

The Hearts striker has been backed by a Celtic star.

Lawrence Shankland has been branded as excellent by Celtic right-back Anthony Ralston ahead of Scotland's final March friendly with Northern Ireland.

The striker started for the nation away at Netherlands on Friday night, as a bruising 4-0 defeat was inflicted upon Steve Clarke's side. He had a looping header miss the target in the first half and cracked the bar after half-time, with a defensive Dutch mishap providing him a big opening.

Debate is raging over who will start for the nation at Euro 2024 this summer. The Hearts forward's form in Gorgie has catapulted him into the reckoning while Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes are also vying for a chance to start the opener against hosts Germany.

Ralston has reflected on the defeat to Netherlands and what is to come in the game ahead, with his thoughts on Shankland clear. The Celtic star said: "Lawrence is a top-quality striker. He'll be disappointed, I think it took a slight bobble. He finishes those all the time, but he did well and he should be proud of himself.

"I felt for the majority of the game. we did really well, as a squad we felt that. Had we taken our opportunities we would have been in a better place in the game.

"But we know as a squad what our standards are and when the goals go in it's not to let that slip which we were disappointed with, but it's important we bounce back against Northern Ireland. We demand off each other high standards but we'll analyse the game. and where we went wrong and put it right."