I’D TAKE NIZZY AHEAD OF SHANKS
Paton insists Pars ace is bigger hit
PAUL PATON is convinced Kevin Nisbet is a better striker than Lawrence Shankland as the two prepare to go head to head this afternoon.
Nisbet has netted 22 times in 31 appearances for Dunfermline this season after finishing last term as the SPFL’s top scorer.
The 22-year-old was the subject of big-money bids from Hibs and Dundee United in the January transfer window with Rangers among the other clubs said to be monitoring his progress.
United see the former Raith and Partick Thistle player as a possible long-term successor to Shankland – who bagged his 29th goal of the campaign in last week’s victory over Inverness.
But Pars skipper Paton reckons Nisbet has the better all-round game to trump today’s on-form rival.
He said: “We believe our front four is as good as any in the division. And I mean that.
“Nizzy is the best striker in the league. You’ve got to hand it to Shanks with his goals but we feel, as an all-round striker, we wouldn’t swap Nizzy for anyone.
“Don’t get me wrong, Shanks is great, he’s brilliant. He’s one of the best strikers in the league, along with Stephen Dobbie.
“It’s no disrespect to Shanks but we just feel we’ve got the best. That’s
what we believe – Nizzy is the real deal, as is Shanks.
“We’re just delighted to have him here and hopefully he produces this weekend.
“He shows it every game, even when he’s not scoring. He always looks like a threat, he always runs channels and wins headers.
“We’re delighted to have him, I can’t speak highly enough of him.
“We feel with him, Jonathan Afolabi, Ryan Dow, Dom Thomas, Ethan Ross, whoever’s playing, we have a really good front four.
“If we can get them the ball more often we always look as if we’re going to score more goals.”
United’s Paul McMullan says the champions-elect won’t take their foot off the gas – but admits they can just about see the finishing line.
The Tannadice winger said: “We might still need 15 points or whatever so it’s a good month or so away. We have to concentrate on getting wins and then, as it gets closer, we would probably start talking about what game or whatever then.
“The manager hasn’t even spoken about it with us. We are just focused on Saturday, getting a win, and that takes you a step closer.”