LAWRENCE SHANKLAND has rubbished transfer rumours linking him with a move to either side of the Old Firm.

The 24-year-old has been one of the top performing strikers in Scotland in recent years and he was awarded with a national team call-up for last year’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Russia and San Marino.

His form at club level for Dundee United has led to increased transfer speculation regarding his future and some reports suggested he could be on his way to either Celtic or Rangers.

But Shankland poured water on those rumours when speaking on the Football Daft Podcast.

He said: “It’s always the same – it’ll probably start again soon.

“If you’ve done well, people just automatically [think] any time there’s a scout at the game

‘they’re there to watch you’ – and they’re probably not, they’re there to watch somebody else.

“With Stoke, Rangers and Celtic that was the three strongest rumours and I hadn’t heard from any of them at all.”

After breaking into Steve Clarke's Scotland team at the tail end of last year, Shankland is now keen to become a regular for his country.

And like all Scotland football fans a place a major tournament is at the forefront of his mind.

He continued: “If I go up to the Premier League and I do well, there’s nothing to say I can’t get myself in there.

“If you’re in the squad, you’ve always got a chance of forcing yourself into that team.

“I probably played more that [Euro qualifiers] trip than I thought I would have, to be honest.

“I didn’t know what to expect. I thought I was just going to join up and see how I did in the training.

“I was just looking forward to that alone, but then getting the chance to come on as a sub [against Russia] and then starting the other game [against San Marino] is something I probably could never have imagined.

“I’ve shown that I can go there, and they wouldn’t put you in if they didn’t think you impressed in training, so I’ve done that before.

“If I go and impress in the Premier League there’s no reason why I can’t do well and get back in the squads.”

On his Scotland debut, Shankland added: “Playing for Scotland was a dream come true.

“When you’re younger you want to play for your country, and to do that was amazing...

“I got a phone call about five minutes before the squad got announced on Twitter...

“I thought I was getting bammed up. I was just sitting waiting on the squad coming out."