Steven Naismith on why he 'expects' Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland to be a Jambos player next season

Steven Naismith insists he is planning for next season with the expectation Lawrence Shankland will still be a Hearts player.

The Jambos' captain and top goalscorer only has a year left on his contract and enters that final year having been the subject of transfer speculation. Rangers were said to hold an interest back in January and it's thought that could be revisited in the summer and his form certainly won't have dissuaded any other clubs from taking a look.

With 29 goals to his name this season, the deadly finisher is clearly a key man on the pitch and has added leadership qualities to his game over the past 18 months. So he is not a man the manager wants to lose if he can help it, although Naismith will be aware of how football works and has been openly comfortable on the situation.

Nevertheless, his plans for next season involve Shankland still wearing the number nine.

Asked if he expects him to still be around, he insisted: "Yes, we're in control of the situation. He's got a year left and that's how we'll focus on it.

"Every player at the club, at some point they will leave, they might get bought or their contract might run down. We need to plan for further ahead all the time, that's the way we work. We need to be a club that's producing players, buying players, progressing them and selling them on, I think every club in Scotland is the same.

"But ultimately it needs to be right for Hearts. If we think we can do something to keep a player here, we will and if we think it's the right time to move them on, they will move on."

The 29-year-old has been nominated for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award alongside Rangers' Jack Butland and James Tavernier and Matt O'Riley.

Naismith reckons his man is well clear.

He added: "I'm not sure it's close, if I'm honest. I think he's been the best player, I think he should win it, I expect him to win it. I expect him to win the media award as well."