Never mind all those negative Normans... now Steve has found lethal Lawrence

Goal gives Hearts hitman confidence boost for finals

- ANDY NEWPORT

STEVE CLARKE couldn't give a scheisse what the Negative Normans are saying.

And he'll care even less now he has got his lethal Lawrence back in the mood.

The Scotland boss can't get his head around those who prefer to take a glass half-empty view of his team, certainly not when we're less than a week out from opening the Euros.

Fair enough, it's hardly been a blistering build-up after going seven games without a win before Monday's drab victory over Gibraltar.

But the boss is absolutely right to insist we should be ramping up the excitement levels and daring to dream in Deutschland.

He's got a team which knows it's game plan inside out and has shown in the fixtures that count that they can compete with some of the best teams in Europe.

And now he's got a real decision to make up front.

We've all seen the impact Shankland has made for Hearts this season after a remarkable 31-goal contribution.

At Jambos he's the central point around which everything else orbits.

But there's been a feeling he looks a little uncomfortable with Scotland.

Of course, making the leap up from the domestic game to international level requires patience.

But the clock has been ticking down and it's almost decision time for Clarke before he sends his team out to face the tournament hosts.