Ex-Rangers star hails former club's newest signing

The striker, 30, completed a free transfer to Ibrox on a two-year deal with the option of a further year after scoring 20 goals for his former side last season.

Naismith, who worked closely with Shankland at Tynecastle and within the Scotland set-up, says the forward is playing the best football of his career. He said: "Lawrence has grown and he's as good as he's ever been in every aspect of his game.

"Over the last three or four years he's arguably been the best player in Scotland overall in every area: leadership, goal scoring, importance to a team, build-up play."

Naismith also highlighted Shankland's leadership qualities as a key strength that will prove vital at Ibrox. He added: "An area people don't give Lawrence credit for is his leadership skills. They're as good as I've seen. When there are tough moments he stands up and he performs himself.

"But if there are tough moments and you need to face a crowd or something like that, he'll pull somebody to the side and say 'I'll deal with this'. He knows the pressure on players. That's something he's developed and you must credit the likes of Robbie Neilson for giving him the Hearts captaincy and the opportunity to perform that way.

"He's not only done it when he's been in a team that's been winning 3-0, he's done it in big moments."

Naismith believes Shankland has matured significantly in his decision-making and overall game intelligence. He said: "I first came across him as a forward here when I was a player and he was a finisher. He didn't have real game knowledge or intelligence or a real work-rate.

"When I then worked with him as a coach, that was a massive change. His game intelligence and his finesse is top level. He's probably taken a wee bit of time to get to that comfortable zone.

"But you've seen he's rebounded and become the best player in Scotland."