Ayr’s prized asset Shankland eager for Premiership return

Lawrence Shankland admits it’s his dream to play in the Premiership again after resurrectinghiscareerwithleague1 champions Ayr United. But Somerset manager Ian Mccall is hoping to convince the striker to lead the Championship charge next season.

Shankland,releasedbyaberdeen last summer, smashed 29 goals in 33 games as Ayr sensationally won the title on the final day. He ran away with the Ladbrokes Player of the Season award, with Mccall being named Manager of the Season.

The prolific campaign has given 22-year-old Shankland renewed belief that he can get back to the top. Hearts are reputed to be interested, while other Championship sides are also in the market.

Shankland, out of contract at the end of May, said: “Some people chuck it when they leave a big club but I just wanted to get back playing again. I think I showed that when I get game time I can do well.

“I still have ambitions of playing in the Premiership again. I’m an ambitious per- 0 Ian Mccall and Lawrence Shankland with their awards. son. Whether it takes me six months or three years, I aim to be there at some point.

“I have had a good season – probably the best of my career – and it’s a great bunch of boys. I really enjoyed it and I think it’s the most consistent I have been in my career. It wasn’t just the goals, I felt I was playing well most games.

“I will just need to weigh what’s best in the summer. If it’s Ayr then I will give it all I’ve got in the Championship.”

Shankland enjoyed a sunshine break with the victorious Ayr team last week and it really hit home what they had achieved. “There was 15 of us over in Magaluf and we had a great laugh,” he added.

“We were all talking about the title win when we were away and we all realised that we might never win a league like that again in our lives.

“We thought we had messed it up with a week to go and then we went on to win it.”

Ladbrokes League 1 Manager of the Season Mccall said: “I’m confident that if I can keep the players I want to keep and maybe add four or five we can have a real go. I have not been able to do much as yet but I am hoping to get a few deals tied up before the end of the week.

“Hopefully, the ones I want to keep will sign for next season and be part of what we want to achieve. Lawrence is one of them. He has other options but hopefully he will stay.” Queen of the South have signed the experienced Gary Harkins on an initial one-year deal.

The 33-year-old spent last season at Morton but has opted to move to Championship rivals Queens, whose manager Gary Naysmith expects him to bolster his side’s midfield.

“I feel that Gary’s attributeswillcomplement Kyle Jacobs’ strengths very well in the engine room and I look forward to the two of them playing together,” Naysmith said. “Gary was Morton’s best player against us in every game last season and once I knew that he was available and interested in joining us, I moved quickly to snap him up. He is an experienced player who is very comfortable on the ball and will help us control more games, especially our home matches.”