Shankland a natural-born killer, admits Robertson
JOHN ROBERTSON labelled Lawrence Shankland a “natural-born killer”after the striker’s four-goal destruction of Inverness left their manager positively reeling - but even more surprising for him is the fact the 23-year-old ended up at Tannadice.
Robertson watched on as summer signing Shankland displayed his predatory instinct on Saturday with a hattrick of headers inside 53 minutes, before a classy fourth in the dying minutes rounded things off to send United soaring to the top of the table.
Shankland had seemed all set to head south of the border having left Ayr United as a free agent in the summer, prompting the likes of Swansea City and Sunderland to lead the chase for his signature while Rangers had also been mentioned as possible suitors.
But the 23-year-old marksman opted for a switch to Tayside instead once United, backed by cash-rich American owner Mark Ogren, entered the bidding to secure his services against all the odds.
Ogren was present at the weekend to see his prized asset’s exploits inspire Robbie Neilson’s promotion hopefuls, who are utterly intent on ending their four-year stay in the Championship.
Robertson remains Hearts’ all-time leading goalscorer and knows a striker when he sees one, although he still couldn’t quite believe Shankland was starring for the Taysiders.
“They’ve paid a lot of money for him in wages and perhaps signing-on fees that nobody else can come through and look at in a million years,” stated Caley Thistle boss Robertson.
“If the figures are to be believed, he
He looks like a player who will be a big difference between the team who wins the title and the team who finishes in the play-offs