Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Shankland keen nominees in the
LAWRENCE Shankland has been pitted against Celtic and Rangers’ top strikers for the Scottish Football Writers’ Player of the Year award.
Now the Dundee United hot shot wants to go head-to-head with them at the top of the Premiership scoring charts.
Shankland’s stunning season for club and country earned him a nomination for the sports writers’ main end-of-the-season award next to Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard, Rangers counterpart Alfredo Morelos and Hoops midfielder Callum McGregor.
Despite the stream of plaudits Shankland has earned by firing United back to the Premiership, he insists he didn’t see the nomination coming.
But it’s an honour the 24-yearold is determined to prove himself worthy of when the Tangerines’ top-flight campaign kicks off.
Asked how he learned of his inclusion on the awards shortlist, Shankland said: “My girlfriend, Nicole, was sitting next to me and she asked me to guess who had been nominated for Player of the Year by the Scottish Football Writers.
“I couldn’t get the fourth one – it was me. I did not guess myself. I think I worked my way through the full squads of Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen – everyone.
“I was surprised. It’s a big award and to be nominated alongside the players on the shortlist is great. It’s something to be proud of.
“It’s good company to keep. They are three great players that I am in there mixing with. To be up for the same award is great.
“I admire Edouard and Morelos as strikers. Everyone knows if you are playing for Rangers and Celtic then you are a good player.
“But when you see them playing in Europe they are just top players. It’s company I’m happy to be in with.
“My ambition is to score as regularly as them in the Premiership. Definitely.
“As a striker they will be my competition in terms of going out and trying to score goals.
“I’m expecting those two players to be up there in the high numbers again next season. It’s another challenge for me but it’s one I’m looking forward to.”
Signing Shankland last summer was a coup for United.
After a fruitful season at Ayr United, the striker had been linked with a move to England.
However, after a stunning first campaign at Tannadice – in which he also won two Scotland caps and scored one goal from his first callup – he feels vindicated for having picked the Tangerines.
“It was maybe surprising for some people (that I signed for United) but half the teams that were rumoured were probably not true,” explained Shankland.
“I made a good decision to come here and it’s paid off.
“International recognition was a