OLD BOYS LINK TO TANNADICE SMOOTHS WAY

LAWRENCE SHANKLAND used former Dundee United team-mate Frederic Frans as his point man ahead of his transfer to Beerschot.

Belgian defender Frans, who also had a spell at Partick Thistle, has been with the Antwerp-based club since January 2020 and helped Shankland with his research before agreeing to his £1million summer move.

He said: ‘I had Frederic on social media, so I had an idea about the place and he also gave me a point of contact at the club.

‘Everything he said has turned out to be true — he didn’t tell me any lies! The league is good and so is the lifestyle in Antwerp.

‘It helps when you know someone, but they have all been good. The language can be a wee bit of a barrier because the majority of the boys speak French. So that’s something I need to improve on.

‘It’s all been fresh to me which is what I wanted. It’s good to see new stadiums and new places.

‘There is no team I’ve faced that does not to try decent football. It’s probably not as hectic as Scottish football where, in certain games, teams will go direct and that’s it.

‘Most teams here get the ball on the grass and try and move it. That suits me and the way I want to play.’