Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Connor on comeback trail
Connor Shields has no regrets about making the move to Sunderland – despite admitting his Albion Rovers exit for fulltime football turned into a “nightmare”.
In 2018, the Coatbridge native burst onto the scene at Cliftonhill having taken the step-up from the youth ranks under Brian Kerr in League One.
At 19, the forward was attracting interest from clubs across the country, and on January transfer deadline day he made the shock switch to The Black Cats as they battled relegation from the English Championship.
However, the fairytale rise of Shields would turn into a horror story as he struggled to make the first-team breakthrough and was shipped out on loan to Alloa by gaffer Jack Ross.
At the end of his deal last summer, Shields dropped to the non- league to pen a deal with Aldershot, before making another temporary switch to Billericay Town.
He failed to make an appearance for the National League South outfit before the campaign was axed in the midst of the pandemic.
Now 23, Shields admits the hunt for a new club “was hard going” in the midst of the Covid crisis before being snapped up by Queen of the South.
Despite his mixed fortunes, the Rovers academy graduate says he still “enjoyed every minute” of his spell south of the border.
“Last year wasn’t ideal. I wasn’t really playing at all and then the lockdown happened,” he said.
“Then when the loan was over with the season being called off I decided to come home.
“Going to Sunderland initially after leaving Rovers was obviously a massive jump.
“I had never played full-time and had only really made my breakthrough into the first team that season.
“I enjoyed every minute of it, even though I didn’t really get a chance.
“I got put out to Alloa during it as well, so I’ve still not played a full season at full-time level.
“Last season I was at Aldershot and then go out on loan just before the season was been called off.
“That has kind of been a nightmare. It’s been stop-start at full-time for me.
“I played at the start at Aldershot, and at Sunderland I learned loads as well, but I want that full season at full-time and to play every week.”
After speaking with Doonhamers boss Allan Johnston, Shields was sold on the move to Dumfries.
He says he “was looking to get back up the road” to find the form he showcased in his breakthrough season in Monklands.
Shields added: “I was home for so many months after the end of the season and I wanted to stay up here again.
“I spoke to Allan and where he wanted me to play, what part he saw me playing in the squad. It suited me right now.
“I was set on Queen of the South after speaking to him.
“I’ve not actually played fulltime back home yet so I wanted to give it a go.
“I want to get back to the same form I have shown before at
Rovers. It will be different and I won’t be playing up front, but I’ve played in the Championship before and I kind of know what the league is about now.”
“Hopefully I’ll hit the ground running the i n
Betfred Cup.
“That’s where it all started at
Rovers. That could be the starting point again.”
He is now targeting a successful season in the Championship after returning to training
– and can’t wait to learn from veteran attacker
Stephen
Dobbie.
Shields adds:
“P l aying wi t h
Stephen Dobbie is a joy as well. Give him the ball at the halfway line, let him score, and you get an assist!
“Every day I’m trying to learn bits and pieces from Stephen.
“He’s very good with young players and after a certain drill, if you don’t understand it he will explain it to you and take you through where you need to be.
“We are there to get better as a team and you can tell his experience will really help the squad.
“And the amount of goals he has scored up here recently is frightening.
“Hopefully I can set him up with a few and he can return the favour.”