Shankland makes his point to rescue Scotland

On an ill-tempered occasion when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia reminded onlookers what a pity it would be if he does not feature in Euro 2024, Lawrence Shankland issued his own "don't you forget about me" message.

- Ewan Murray

Shankland was not named in Steve Clarke's original squad for the fixtures with Georgia and Norway.

An injury to Che Adams meant the Hearts striker, fresh from two goals at Motherwell on Saturday, received a belated call. With the Scots trailing 2-1 in the dying stages in Tbilisi, Clarke turned towards Shankland.

A 92rd-minute header from the substitute snatched a point and ensured this was not to be Kvaratskhelia's evening after all.

Shankland's intervention can only boost his hopes of a ticket to Germany next summer. Scotland lack difference makers in the final third; Shankland is unlikely to run away from the best defenders in Europe but he has capacity to outfox them.

That Scotland's qualification was secured last month meant this clash was not particularly relevant for the visitors. Ninety seven minutes proved why Scotland had always been keen to ensure this was the case.

Still, Clarke was anxious to avoid defeat in his 50th game in charge.

Without Shankland's touch, Scotland would have slipped to a fourth loss in a row. With it, they collected a qualifying point in Georgia for the first time.