Hearts boss Robbie Neilson has confirmed Lawrence Shankland will skipper the side for the rest of the season in the absence of club captain Craig Gordon.
Gordon suffered a season ending injury during last Saturday's Scottish Premiership draw with Dundee United after a double leg break. Wednesday night's win over St Johnstone was the first game since the Jambos goalkeeper has been sidelined and Shankland was perhaps a surprising choice to have the armband. But with Craig Halkett and Stephen Kingsley also absent, Neilson has explained the Scotland cap has all the attributes to be a perfect leader on the pitch.
Neilson said: “Lawrence is a leader within the group. I think there is an opportunity with him to develop further. Craig Gordon will remain the club captain but we need an on-field captain, day-to-day and on the pitch and that will be Lawrence. I spoke to a few of the senior players and he was the main candidate for us.
“I’m really pleased with him. I think you could see it improving his game with that leadership.
"The main thing for me is there is development there within him. I can see him becoming a really good on-pitch captain. He will stay as the captain [when Halkett is back from injury].
"He's got the attributes, he'll play every week, top goalscorer. He's got a bit about him as well.”
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