Exclusive: John Robertson speaks on Shankland, Bauld, Wardhaugh and scoring 30 goals in a season for Hearts

The current Gorgie No.9 who scores all the time is a priceless commodity

Willie Bauld, Jimmy Wardhaugh, John Robertson, Lawrence Shankland: A pantheon of Hearts strikers connected through history by their supernatural ability to score goals; every one a bona fide Tynecastle legend who will be revered for evermore. Shankland is a newcomer to this illustrious club after claiming his 30th goal of the season in maroon at St Mirren on Wednesday night. He should not feel overawed.

One hook of the right boot over his left shoulder produced an exquisite equaliser in Paisley as Shankland became the first man to reach 30 for Hearts in a single campaign since Robertson struck 31 times in 1987/88. Willie Wallace scored 33 goals in 1963/64. Bauld lashed 40 into the net back in 1949/50 and then claimed 39 in 1954/55 during an era when Hearts habitually won league titles and cups. Wardhaugh breached the 30 mark four times, scoring 38 goals in 1953/54, 36 goals in 1955/56, 30 goals in 1956/57 and 37 goals in 1957/58.

Before them, players including Archie Kelly, Tommy Walker and Barney Battles posted goal tallies exceeding 30 in a season across the 1920s, 30s and 40s. Battles scored 46 in 1928/29, then 38 the following season before a phenomenal 54 competitive Hearts goals in season 1930/31.

With those quite ridiculous feats unlikely to be repeated in the modern day, Shankland’s achievement stands alone. It underlines a player at the peak of his career. He scored 28 in his first season in Edinburgh and could yet beat 30 with one game remaining this term. He simply refuses to be shackled by opponents or daunted by pressure as Hearts’ captain and undisputed talisman. That impromptu finish against St Mirren summed up his two years in Gorgie - lethal, sublime, ruthless. He is literally now among the greatest Hearts strikers ever to have lived.

“The guy is phenomenal,” Robertson told the Edinburgh News. “People talk about whether natural goalscorers are born or made. To be the best, the most natural strikers are born. You can’t coach the goal Shankland scored last night, or the previous one he scored against St Mirren at Tynecastle. He has that uncanny ability to know where the goals are. You can’t teach that.

“You can improve, touch, technique, heading, weak foot, but you can’t teach that natural instinct to score out of nothing. The ball bounced and his first thought is to hook it over his shoulder and into the far corner. It was an unbelievable finish. It adds to an already incredible highlights reel because the goals he scores are unbelievable. He doesn’t tend to score ordinary goals.

“In management and coaching, I’ve spoken to a lot of young strikers and even more experienced ones. A lot of them look up to see where the goalkeeper is or where the goals are. I tell them that the goals don’t have legs. They don’t move. Wherever you are in the penalty box, if you know where the goals are, you are capable of producing something.

“I was chatting to Lawrence at the Hearts golf day last week and he’s such a lovely guy. I’m absolutely delighted for him. Getting 30 goals in a season for Hearts is a hell of an achievement. People don’t understand how difficult it is. Before us, the players who did it were guys like Bauld and Wardhaugh. That shows you how hard it is. On top of all the individual awards he is getting just now, which are richly deserved, he is also going to add a golden boot. His numbers are phenomenal.

“There was stuff from opposition fans last year that all he could do was score penalties. Well, penalties still have to be scored but there is more to him than that. Lawrence’s all-round game has improved dramatically. His touch, link-up and intelligence are there for all to see, plus he scored goals at a phenomenal rate. To score 58 goals and counting in two seasons for Hearts is tremendous when his appearance total is in the early 90s.”

Shankland’s long-term future at Tynecastle is still unclear given he has so far refused to sign two new contract offers this year. His contract runs until summer 2025 and further discussions with Hearts are planned for the end of the season. Having previously worked as an ambassador at the club under chairwoman Ann Budge, Robertson is currently weighing up some options to return to football after leaving Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He knows the Hearts hierarchy will throw everything at the striker in an effort to keep him longer.

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“He said himself he’s got big decisions to make,” added Robertson. “I know for a fact Hearts are going to do everything they can to get him to stay and sign a contract extension. All Hearts fans, myself included, will hope that is the case, but it may not be. We don’t know. Only Lawrence and his family will know what his next step is. Right now, you just have to enjoy what is going on.

“It has taken 30-odd years for someone to hit the 30 mark. I’ve said before that I hope Lawrence goes on to break every record I set because that means the club will have success and will win more trophies. I’ve been fortunate to meet a lot of the lads who played since I left - Rudi Skacel, Roman Bednar, Michael Pospisil, Kyle Lafferty. A lot of them are really good guys and Lawrence is up there. He’s got a lovely demeanour and he’s a humble guy when you speak to him.

“I think [Hearts head coach] Steven Naismith deserves great credit for the way he has handled him. Being captain gives him greater responsibility and it has brought him up to even higher levels. It’s going to be a nervous summer for Hearts fans, I don’t think there is any doubt about that. As far as the club are concerned, I’m absolutely positive that Ann Budge, [chief executive] Andrew McKinlay and [sporting director] Joe Savage are doing their utmost to try and persuade him to stay at Tynecastle.”