Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Twenty’s not plenty if Shanks comes back
LAWRENCE Shankland insists he will target 20 goals a season if he returns to Scottish football.
The Scotland international has been on the books of Beerschot for just four months but reports suggest that the Belgian outfit is willing to let him go.
Former Dundee United favourite Shankland has scored two goals in 13 games, including finding the net against Anderlecht.
And while Shankland is adamant he has nothing to prove in the Premiership, he will set lofty targets should he return.
Should he leave this month, his only viable destination would be back to Tannadice. Fifa rules dictate that he cannot play for a third team this season.
However, there would be no shortage of suitors for his signature in the summer, with the likes of Aberdeen and Hearts thought to be among his admirers.
“I wouldn’t say I have unfinished business in Scotland,” Shankland told BBC Scotland.
“The numbers I hit in the Championship, I don’t think anyone will hit them in the Premiership unless they are playing for Rangers or Celtic.
“The question was ‘could he score in the Premiership?’ Well, I can. I scored. How many? I don’t know.
“If I return and get the chance, I hope it’s a lot. I don’t think I have a lot to prove.
“I felt that I did my job for Dundee United and the number of goals I finished on was ok for where we were at. If I return, hopefully it’s 20-plus.”
Shankland bagged 48 goals in 57 Championship games for Ayr and Dundee United, helping the latter return to the top flight.
Eight goals in 32 Premiership fixtures followed, albeit the former Aberdeen kid undoubtedly suffered from often being played in a wider role in Micky Mellon’s 4-3-3.
Nevertheless, he impressed sufficiently to earn a £1 million switch from Tannadice to Beerschot last summer.
“We were the new team in the league and there was a lot of adapting,” added Shankland, reflecting on last term with the Tangerines.
”Some of us hadn’t played at that level for a long time and some had never played it before.
“There was always going to be a transition period and we probably finished (ninth) where we deserved.
“Every striker wants to score 30 goals at the start of a season, but you need to understand the circumstances.
“Your form can’t be amazing every week. I don’t score every time I have a shot. If I did, I would be playing at one of the top teams.”