COAST GAMES alone until tide turned and he washed up at Ayr United

trial and really enjoyed it – but nothing came of it. “So eventually, I ended up going to the DW Sports at the Glasgow Fort and buying myself two balls. “At the school across the road from my house, I’d just go there and have a kickabout on my own. “That was hard but I kept myself fit. My parents tried to lift me but football’s like that. When you’re down, everyone just says: ‘See you later mate.’ “You have to get yourself out of it. I learned a lot from the experience.” Before his big move to Aberdeen, Shankland had plied his trade as a part-timer at Queen’s Park. His group – which wasn’t even regarded as the club’s best at Under-17 level – yielded some talented players, most notably Liverpool and Scotland star Andrew Robertson. Shankland’s grounding with ex-boss Gardiner Speirs laid the foundations for a fruitful career. And that job on the tools only made him more determined to make the grade. He said: “At Queen’s Park myself, Andy, Aidan Connolly and Blair Spittal all played in the same team. “The club had actually joined the SPL Development League that year – but we couldn’t get in that side. We all played in their SFL team, which was seen as the lower level. “Yet every single one of us made it into the first-team at Queen’s Park. And none of the SPL boys made it. “We were only 15 and 16 years old – and God knows how Andy, at least, wasn’t in that team above. “I was still at s chool wh e n I made my debut at Hampden. When I eventually left school, the club got me a job in McAlpine’s in Hillington. “I was a tool setter. I wasn’t qualified for the job. I’m sure you have to go to college to do that. But the guy I was working with told me what to do and I followed. “I was in there for around five months. It was money but I was always more interested in football. “All of us believed we were good enough to make it as pros because we were in a first team at such a young age.” After earning his move to Pittodrie, Shankland was sent out to Dunfermline, St Mirren and Morton on loan – and scored for each of them. But after being set free by Derek McInnes in 2017, he’s finally flourishing at Somerset Park. He admits Aberdeen were RIGHT to let him go. And the humbling experience just makes him appreciate even more what he’s got now. Shankland said: “After my loan spell at Morton, I didn’t even go back to Aberdeen. The manager just spoke to my agent. I actually met Derek in the airport last summer when I was going on holiday and we had a chat. “After the season I’d had, I didn’t deserve a new contract at Aberdeen. I know that myself. “When I signed for Ayr United, I wasn’t bothered about the level because I had to prove myself again. “I knew I wasn’t going to get a big move somewhere. I hadn’t earned it. “I didn’t perform last season, it wasn’t good enough. It was a strange year because I wasn’t enjoying it. The manager at Ayr has instilled belief in me again. It was last-chance saloon and I feel lucky to be given another opportunity. “It has been a great season so far. We’re at the top of the league and it will now be a failure if we don’t get promoted. “I know when I’m at my best that I will score goals in the Championship if we get up. “I’ve done it before and I can do it again. I got eight last year – and that was me playing badly. “I told myself in the summer that if I had anything about me I’d get 20-plus goals this season. “I’ve got 28 and I want more, I’m not done yet. “People probably did doubt me when I left Aberdeen but they’d be right – because I was worried myself. I had started to look at other jobs. “But that spell with nothing is probably one of the reasons I’ve done so well this season. “Sometimes you don’t realise how lucky you are just to be getting a game of football.”