Shankland picks top-rated player

FOR many reasons it was a season to remember for Dundee United.

The 2019/20 campaign will go down as one of the club’s best and certainly the most bizarre.

The Championship title was won, and with it promotion back to the big time after four long years away, all amid the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.

Covid-19’s shutdown of Scottish football meant a season cut short for Robbie Neilson’s men, who were crowned champions with eight games remaining.

Sitting 14 points clear, the Tangerines were destined to canter home after leading from day one, with some big individual performances from key men helping them along the way.

Tonight, Tele Sport tots up its Terrors player ratings, counting those with more than 15 starts across league, Scottish Cup and Betfred Cup and scored as an average out of 10, to crown United’s Player of the Year.

LAWRENCE SHANKLAND – 7

Of course, that man is Lawrence Shankland. His 28 goals, ultimately, made the difference for United after three failed promotion attempts.

The hitman’s highlights include four on Championship opening day against Inverness, a late double which saw United comeback to beat Arbroath, a perfect hat-trick and 10/10 performance at Partick and two goals in Dundee derbies.

The 24-year-old Scotland international’s goals this season will be long remembered but the quality of his overall play shouldn’t be forgotten either.

NICKY CLARK – 6.95

Injury curtailed his campaign in

January but, make no mistake, Nicky Clark played a huge role in the Tangerines’ title success.

Fitness problems meant he had a slow start to the season but, once he got going, there was no stopping the 28-year-old. Autumn brought seven goals in 10 games and, playing in the No 10 role, he was often involved in everything good United did offensively.

The ex-Rangers man scored in two derbies but Clark’s best goal came against former club Dunfermline in October, a sumptuous free-kick which started his purple patch.

PAUL McMULLAN – 6.83

Tricky wide man Paul McMullan is another Terror whose season was dogged by injury but his inclusion in this list will come as no surprise.

He was United’s second-best player the season prior, behind Pavol Safranko, and he has proven vital once more, chipping in with three goals and nine assists in league football.

Championship

defences

Robbie Neilson had top performers throughout his Dundee United team. Lawrence Shankland outscored every other Dundee United player when