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Former Scotland international Barry Ferguson has insisted that Hearts star Lawrence Shankland is still a quality player and is hoping that his goal at the weekend will kickstart his campaign.

 

The 29-year-old centre forward last season scored 31 times for Hearts in all competitions, but this season Shankland has failed to impress.

 

At the weekend, the Jambos skipper ended his goal drought by scoring against Ross County but failed to help Hearts win the game.

 

 

Ferguson admitted that he was surprised to see that Shankland did not draw suitors in the summer and insisted that the Hearts forward is a quality player even though he is not having a good time in front of the opposition goal.

 

He thinks that the Scotland international is going through a bad phase like any other striker and is hoping that his goal against Ross County will kickstart his campaign.

 

 

While discussing Shankland not drawing attention from clubs in the summer, Ferguson said on the Go Radio Football Show: “It was interesting to see that there was no interest.

 

“I am very surprised at that because Lawrence Shankland, even through this barren spell, I still think he is a quality player.

 

 

“You do not lose your ability overnight.

 

“You are just going through one of those spells a lot of strikers do.

 

“It is good to see him getting off the mark, and I hope it will kickstart his season.”

 

Hearts are still winless in the ongoing campaign and they will be hoping that Shankland can regain his last season’s form to help them climb up the table.