Dream Rangers move the perfect World Cup boost for Shanklandpublished at 14:02 BST
Image source, SNSLawrence Shankland says completing a "dream" move to Rangers has provided the ideal boost as he looks to sparkle for Scotland at the World Cup.
The 30-year-old striker ended his goal-laden Hearts career by making a surprise switch to Ibrox last week before netting a double in Scotland's 4-1 friendly win over Curacao at Hampden.
In a Scottish FA interview in America before Saturday's friendly against Bolivia in New Jersey, Shankland said: "Obviously I finished the season pretty strong, so confidence was already high.
"To join my boyhood club, somewhere that I've always had a dream to play, and to get that opportunity, especially in the later stages of your career, I'm just happy and excited to get that opportunity.
"It can give you that wee boost and hopefully it does going into these games."
Shankland's transfer had to be hastily concluded before he joined up with the Scotland camp last week.
"Obviously, I was due to meet up with Scotland on the Tuesday but I had to delay to the Wednesday for my medicals and stuff," he said. "I felt like it was pretty important for me to get it done before I came here.
"I think when you come to a World Cup, you want to enjoy that experience. I don't think I wanted anything hanging over my head with my club football so I was quite keen to get things wrapped up.
"Obviously, it was a big decision for me, leaving Hearts. It's a great club. I've got a lot of good times and good memories there. But the opportunity to go and join Rangers is one that I couldn't really turn down.
"As I said, it was just important that I got that sorted before I came here. Then, full focus on the World Cup."
Shankland admitted he has allowed himself to dream of scoring at the World Cup. "I think everybody will," he said. "Everybody will aim to leave their stamp here.
"As a striker, that's what you're judged on so of course I'd love to get on the scoresheet at the World Cup. But as long as the team's winning and I'm playing my part that way, I'd be happy as well."
Shankland revealed a gift from skipper Andy Robertson reaffirmed how big a deal it is to represent Scotland at a World Cup.
"Andy actually left us a wee letter the other night and gave us a couple of wee gifts to say well done for being in the squad, etc," he said.
"The numbers on that, when he put the significance of how many people there are and how little people are in this squad, it was huge. That added to the importance of it."

























