The fact that Shankland had played and scored in Gorgie for the team had to be faced.
It didn't sit well to think that Lawrence Shankland had led Hearts out and scored his farewell goal at Tynecastle.
He will have the number nine on his back for the next three years, in part, because of it.
After letting his last contract expire due to international offers, the 29-year-old signed a three-year contract last week, ending months of suspense.
Shankland had a poor season last season as Hearts finished in the bottom six of the Premiership with only nine goals overall. He was benched for a period and appeared destined to go. He didn't want his time in maroon to end that way.
"It was odd," he acknowledged. Naturally, you have conversations and this and that throughout the season, so I assumed that I had played my final game and scored my final goal at Tynecastle.
You understand what I mean when I say that I'm not sure if I was, or if I was okay with that. I'm not sure if I would pass up that chance. But now that I've decided, I'm content once more, and I'm eager for it.
It's a fantastic location for play. I hope we can go and create some more memories because I have a tonne of positive ones from my time here.
When Shankland was not on the plane when Derek McInnes and his new team left for their training camp in Spain earlier this month, it appeared like the writing was on the wall.
Knowing that a deal was simmering in the background, he was spending his time alone with the family.
I was to Loch Lomond, and it was good! It was beautiful because I was away for the weekend," Shankland remarked.
However, to be fair, it was quite close at that time. There were still a lot of talks to be had, and I believe the club was tired of being questioned about it on social media as well.
As a result, they most likely just released that squad to defuse the situation for a few days because it would take some time to sort things out.
However, I was fairly certain that it could be completed at that point. Even though there were some i's and t's to cross, it was completed in the end.
It is hoped that Hearts supporters will see the Lawrence Shankland of his first two seasons, when he scored more than 60 goals, now that his future is firmly in order.
Even though Shankland acknowledges that he might have pursued a huge salary abroad, his family's affection for Hearts and a particular mascot helped to cement the deal.
"To be fair, I believe the two females own every Jock the Jambo teddy bear from the club shop. Basically, stickers are everything. Yes, they will both be thrilled to see him once more.
But no, it's crucial, particularly if you have small children, do you understand? Commencing school, etc.
They are going through a tough period as well. Therefore, you kind of need to think about all of that and decide on something that works for the family as well as football.
And to be honest, I believe my missus was eager for me to stay here with my children from the beginning, so they've only ever known me as a Hearts fan.
Since they have friends in the player's lounge, I believe they wanted me to be here as well.
Shankland will be his captain, McInnes affirmed, but the player didn't mind; in fact, he turned down Frankie Kent's attempts to give him the armband during a preseason game in Spain.
"To be honest, I don't like that," he remarked. "Just keep it going. Someone was rushing over there in a desperate attempt to offer the armband because it was only for fifteen minutes.
It doesn't matter who wore it because I'm not very interested in it. I had to tell Frankie that it was appropriate for the evening.
"It was more about deciding where I would be happy and enjoy my football and where I could come and perform again, and I was sure that would be here."
"Obviously, I know the role that I was in previously, so there isn't much changing there."
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