The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Ex-Don is among friends in Scots side
Shankland hopes familiarity can breed success
He will be the odd man out in the Scotland squad next week as the only Scottish Championship player but Dundee United striker Lawrence Shankland will be among friends.
The former Aberdeen forward has received his first international call-up by manager Steve Clarke after scoring 15 goals for United so far this season and he will join several familiar faces when he meets his national teammates next week ahead of the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Russia and San Marino.
He said: “I know a fair few boys in that squad from the under-21s, guys like Ryan Christie, Ryan Fraser and John McGinn from my early days. Also, Ryan Jack and Kenny McLean from Aberdeen, too.
“I have also had calls from (former Ayr boss) Ian McCall and Neil McCann, who I worked with at Dunfermline.”
Shankland’s former Queen’s Park team-mate, Scotland captain Andy Robertson, will also be waiting in the wings to welcome his former Hampden team-mate.
Shankland said: “Robbo texted me on Tuesday just to say well done and that he would see me next week.
“We’ve both taken different routes in our careers.
“I’ve gone on a right windy road and he’s gone on a straight one but we’ll both be there next week. I have actually had a good few messages. It’s always nice to have people wishing you well.
“In addition, the boys here have been great with me, wishing me well. They are not jealous at all – just happy for me. It would be the same with anyone here who got a call-up.
“There are a lot of people I’ve worked with over the years, a lot of people who have helped me out.
“Deep down, if you work with good people, you want them to do well… and hopefully I’ve been a good person.”
As for what he hopes to get out of his Scotland experience, Shankland is thinking big. He said: “I would be daft to not want to get onto the pitch. I will go and show what I can do in training. Fingers crossed I get a bit of game time but I know the squad I’m going into and it has Premier League players from big clubs down south – that’s really stiff competition.
“There is no way I expect to waltz in and get a game. It’s going to be tough and I’ll need to prove my worth.
“However, if I get the opportunity, I believe I can do that.”
There is so much interest in Shankland that some United supporters must be worried about being able to hang on to their prize asset.
The striker signed a three-year deal in the summer and while it may be optimistic and even unrealistic to expect him to see that out, Shankland is happy at Tannadice.
He said: “If people are watching me this season, I’m obviously doing my job. Scoring goals will always attract people’s attention but I’ve got a job to do here.
“I signed for three years with United and that’s what I’m committed to.
“If and when I do leave, I want United to be in the Premiership. That was part of my objective when I came here.
“The club has ambition to get back into the top flight and be established in that league.
“That’s why I signed the contract I did.
“So hopefully we win the Championship or get through the play-offs and be up there next season.”