Lawrence Shankland has been selected to start by Hearts manager Robbie Neilson in their final pre-season friendly against Stoke City.
The Scotland international is a statement signing by the Jambos from Belgian side Beerschot and he is thrown right in from the start for the first time at Tynecastle against English Championship opposition. It's a day for Jambos fans to honour the service of club ambassador Gary Locke as this tie couples up as his testimonial.
Neilson's men start their league campaign in a week's time versus Ross County. The Gorgie boss said of Shankland's arrival: “I’m really happy that we’ve been able to bring Lawrence to the club. He’s a player I know well from our time together at Dundee United. I know exactly what his qualities are and what he’ll bring to the team, and that’s why we really pushed hard to make him a Hearts player.
“I know he’ll get a great welcome and I’m looking forward to working with him again.”
Hearts XI: Gordon Smith, Kingsley, Halkett, Haring, Shankland, Atkinson, Rowles, Forrest, Mckay, Cochrane.
Subs: Stewart, Grant, Boyce, Mackay-Steven, Halliday, Sibbick, Logan, Pollock.
Sign up to Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
Stoke XI: Bursik, Taylor, Jagielka, Wilmot, Clarke, Kilkenny, Baker, Laurent, Tymon, Campbell, Brown.
Subs: Bonham, Fox, Flint, Clucas, Gayle, Smallbone, McCarron, Wright-Phillips, Sparrow.
READ NEXT:
- Hearts 2012 Scottish Cup hero open to SPFL return as Premiership club 'could clinch' transfer
- Hearts in fixture schedule change as August Premiership clash pushed back 24 hours
