The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Shankland seeks fresh start with Honest Men
League 1: Former Dons attacker moves west after Swans trial
Former Aberdeen attacker Lawrence Shankland is determined to revive his career at Ayr United after missing out on a contract with Premier League club Swansea City.
The 22-year-old, who started his career at Queen’s Park and had loan spells at Dunfermline, St Mirren and Morton before leaving the Dons after four years in the summer, was on trial with Swansea’s under-23 side last month.
Shankland did not do enough to earn a contract and returned north to sign for manager Ian McCall at Ayr United.
He said: “Swansea was an amazing experience because the facilities they had were incredible.
“I was down there for a couple of weeks and took part in a couple of their games.
“I thought I did well but I just missed out on getting a deal.
“After not having anything set up after leaving Aberdeen it was great to have the chance to go there and show what I can do.
“It had been a long four months without a club. I had been on trial at a few clubs and when the transfer window shut and I wasn’t signed I knew I had to do something.
“Ian McCall gave me the chance to come here which was good as he tried to get me last year but I went to Morton. He obviously wanted me and when I saw the set up Ayr have it was an easy decision to make.
“Ayr are a Championship club and hopefully I can help them get back there as soon as possible.”
Shankland knows he is not guaranteed a starting jersey with the Somerset Park men as he explained: “There is real competition for places here with Craig Moore and Michael Moffat scoring lots of goals already this season.
“Craig was injured at the weekend and that allowed me to get a start against Raith Rovers at the weekend. It was good to be back playing again, but I was frustrated at losing 2-1. We played well enough to get a draw, at least, and we felt a bit hard done by to leave with nothing.
“It was great to get my first goal since being at Morton. Now that everything is settled I want to score goals and do my bit for the team.”
“I thought I did well but I just missed out on getting a deal”