Rangers have been linked with Lawrence Shankland since Steven Gerrard arrived in Glasgow with the Hearts striker proving again this season why he deserves his shot at the highest level.
The well-known Gers fan will line-up against his boyhood club for the fifth time this season with another meeting between the two sides set for Tynecastle on the last weekend of league fixtures.
It’s not often that non-Old Firm players gain individual accolades, but few could argue against Rangers target Lawrence Shankland picking up any awards with Steve Naismith backing his star man.
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Last season, Shankland scored 28 goals, this season he has already matched that figure.
For a team outside of Glasgow’s big two, even including penalites, this is some achievement and deserves to be recognised.
In January, speculation went right to the wire that Rangers were going to make a move for Lawrence Shankland who was valued around £3m, even Fabrizio Romano was posting updates on the will he/wont he saga.
It’s not just individual recognition that Naismith reckons Shankland should be rewarded with when asked in the build up to the Scottish Cup semi-final if the Hearts number nine could be player of the year, via The Daily Record:
“I think he’s got a really good chance. For two seasons in a row, to score the amount of goals that he has, and then on top of that his performances.
“If there’s one moment to look at, then it’s the narrative of not making the Scotland squad, to making the Scotland squad, to ‘can he be number nine and can he go to the Euros?’, to ‘is he going to be our number nine?’
“That shows you how far he’s progressed this season. He showed in the Holland game that he can be a target man as well as being a good finisher.
“If I’m honest I think he’s in with a right good chance of winning it”
Shankland has proven he could be an asset for Rangers
Doubts about whether or not Shankland has the all round game to move up a level have surely been put to bed.
Yes, he isn’t the fastest striker in the world, but look at Rangers last two fixtures, it’s an awareness in the penalty area that is needed.
Shankland has the numbers to back up that he knows where the goal is too having scored at every club he has been at other than when he has been played out of position.
Should Rangers have a more dynamic striker than Shankland? Probably.
Howevever, Rangers have always had a natural finisher in a forward unit of three or four players.
It’s no coincidence that when Jermain Defoe was in the squad Rangers won the league.
As Naismith says, Shankland also gives Rangers the option of going direct when needs be and can drop deeper to create space for others to run into.
Given the shape Philippe Clement likes to play, there is no doubt that Lawrence Shankland could be a success for Rangers.
Hopefully he doesn’t add to his account in Hearts remaining games this season, starting with Hampden on Sunday.
