IBROX SWOOP NEWS TO ME
EUAN McLEAN EURO 2020 COUNTDOWN
THE reception at Lesser Hampden is adorned with a picture of Andrew Robertson to inspire the Queen’s Park’s kids who dream of following in his footsteps.
Now Academy director Gardner Speirs is clearing a space on the wall beside him for Lawrence Shankland, as the former Spiders rising stars are to be reunited in the Scotland squad.
Speirs was the Queen’s manager who gave them their senior debuts in 2012 and even then the pair stood out as special talents. Not that he could have predicted Robertson’s rise to glory as a Champions League winner with Liverpool and captain of his country.
Or would he have expected Dundee United hitman Shankland to be suddenly promoted to Steve Clarke’s national squad straight from the second tier of Scottish football.
But knowing the “God-given” natural talent and fearless confidence he spotted in this born goal-grabber from the age of 13, he is confident Shankland will rise to an occasion bigger than he’s seen.
If the 24-year-old is given his chance in the forthcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Russia and San Marino, Speirs fully expects him to make a good impression.
But as far as Queen’s Park are concerned he already has made his mark for the emerging players at the Spiders just by joining his old team-mate in the realms of international football.
Speirs said: “We have one picture of Andy on the wall as you come in the main door at Lesser Hampden but I think we’re going to have to look for one of Lawrence as well now.
“We’ll find a prominent site sport@dailyrecord.co.uk for him because it’s a fantastic achievement.
“When you get such highprofile success stories it’s great to talk them up as an example to our Under-10s and upwards.
“It’s great to be able to say these two guys started where you are and they’re proof if you’re prepared to work hard enough and listen to the coaches here are the rewards you can get. “To have them both in the national squad at the same time is fantastic for them – and for all the coaches who worked with them at Queen’s Park. They’ll be proud I’m sure.
“I’m proud as well but these boys only played in my first team because they were good enough. It was all down to their focus and determination and the work the youth coaches had put in before they came to me.
“But seeing what they’ve gone on to become since they left Queen’s Park, it does fire the determination to find a few more nuggets.”
Speirs has previously spoken in glowing terms about the rise of Robertson to be crowned a king of Europe but recollections of Shankland’s star potential remain just as vivid.
He said: “Sometimes it seems like a God-given talent, especially for somebody who’s been showing it from a very young age as Lawrence did. I remember him as a 13-year-old when I first came here and he made his firstteam debut as a 16-year-old. He just had fantastic ability.
“He always had a wonderful confidence, not an arrogance, just confidence in his ability and he always scored goals. That was the thing that marked him out.
“I read Steve Clarke saying he scores with his head, left foot and right foot – and that has always been the case.
“He’s a composed finisher as well which suggests he can do it at whatever level he’s playing at.
“He has a wonderful imagination and I think that’s what makes him so hard for defenders to shackle. He’s no onetrick pony. He senses situations very quickly and has the touch and awareness to react accordingly.
“There are not many players who are in the second tier of Scottish football who will get a call-up for the national team but I think that reflects what a special talent he is.
“Lawrence has been scoring goals for a number of years now, he’s not just a one-season wonder, and once again has started this season really well scoring 15 goals in 12 games for Dundee United. “And I would think and expect that he can transfer that to any level. I hope he manages to get some time on the pitch because I’m sure he’ll give a good account of himself. “I’m sure his confidence will help him when he goes into that environment among players from bigger clubs and bigger leagues. He’ll do well. “Back in the day I never thought about who had the best chance to be successful. I was just trying my best to keep them at Queen’s Park! “They were just two great kids to work with and that’s something they absolutely had in common. “It’s no accident that they achieved the success they have. It’s down to their work ethic, determination and focus “I remember both having a steely determination that they were going to go to a higher level and they’ve done it. “They should be proud of themselves because every one at Queen’s Park is certainly proud of them.” FROM BACK PAGE side’s interest although there was a concrete offer on the table from Swansea.
Shankland, whose stunning form for United has earned a place in Steve Clarke’s latest Scotland squad, said: “He (McCall) must have known something I didn’t know.
“I didn’t know much about that, honestly.
“They might have been watching me last season but there was nothing stick-on about it.”
Rangers have watched the 15-goal star in action again this season along with champions Celtic.
But United boss Robbie Neilson insists he won’t cash in on his top striker in January and Shankland’s sole mission is to fire his team back into the Premiership.
The 24-year-old said: “If people are watching me this season then I’m obviously doing my job. And scoring goals will always attract attention.
“But I have a job to do here this season. I signed for three years with United in the summer – and that’s what I’m committed to.
“If and when I do leave I want United to be in the Premiership. That was part of my objective when I came here.
“The club has ambition to get back into the top flight and be established in that league. That’s why I signed the contract I did.
“So hopefully we win the Championship or get through the play-offs and be up there next season.”
Boss Neilson added: “There is not any pressure on us to sell Lawrence.
“He signed a three-year contract, which is great for us, and has international recognition so we won’t be looking to do anything until at least the summer.
“I have spoken to Lawrence and to get where he wants to get to he also needs to do it in the top flight as well.
“He is proven in the Championship but it is a big step to go up and do it again in the Premiership. We hope we can give him the platform to prove himself there.”
The Tannadice star’s phone has been buzzing since his Scotland call-up with former team-mates and managers offering him congratulations.
And one of the texts came from Scotland skipper Andy Robertson, his team-mate at Queen’s Park as a kid.
The Spiders plan to put up a picture of the duo celebrating a goal in their time at the club to inspire the next generation of Hampden hopefuls.
And Shankland said: “I had that picture on my phone anyway – I’ve had it on there for ages. A great screensaver!
“Robbo texted me yesterday just to say well done and that he would see me next week.”
GARDNER SPEIRS ON HIS TWO QUEEN’S PRODIGIES