Lee McCulloch reckons Lawrence Shankland is a better player now than the one he worked with at Dundee United.
The Scotland international joined Hearts this week on a three-year deal. A year-long stint in Belgium was brought to an end after Germinal Beerschot suffered relegation from the Belgian Pro League. They paid £1million to take Shankland from Tannadice last summer, but now he’s back in the Scottish Premiership with the Jambos.
After Ellis Simms’ loan spell ended and he returned to Everton, with the chance of bringing him back for a second stint slim, Robbie Neilson moved to sign Shankland as his new number nine. That should ease the load on Liam Boyce ’s shoulders. The Northern Irishman has been the Tynecastle team’s top scorer in the last few seasons, but was heading into this season as the only senior striker on the books, with youngster Euan Henderson as back up.
“He definitely has it in him, it might take him a little bit of time to settle because it’s a new club. I’m more than confident he’ll come in and do well for the team,” said McCulloch..
“In my opinion, Shanks brings more than just goals to a team and that’s what the manager will be asking of him. You can’t forget we’ve still got Liam Boyce , who I thought was tremendous against Preston during the week. I thought he was one of our better players and more than capable of scoring goals.
“I think the competition for places is there now. If it’s two of them playing or just the one – that’s the manager's call – they’ll both be ready to go. Boycie can play in a different positions as well so it’s not as if it’s two of them for one position. They’ll both be desperate to play, although Shanks is just a bit behind fitness-wise.
“He’s been capped for Scotland, he scored as well. He’s a natural goalscorer but he’s a really good football player, which a lot of people get away from because of his goals and that’s all everybody talks about. He’ll come in when called upon and I’m more than confident he will do well.
“I’m delighted to be working with Lawrence again, we worked with him before for a long period of time. He proved himself at Ayr United and then at Dundee United. It’s brilliant to have him at the club.
“He’s a fantastic guy in the dressing room. He’s grounded, hard working and hopefully he’ll come in and I'm more than confident he will do the business on the pitch.”
Shankland only managed five goals in Belgium, with Beerschot often deploying him in a wider role. That may not be his game, but McCulloch reckons it will have helped develop other aspects of his game that maybe needed work when he left United last August.
“I think he is more developed, he recently had a kid as well so that helps people grow up a bit quicker,” said the Hearts assistant coach. “It’s good he’s experienced different football, a real good standard of football abroad in Belgium.
“He’ll come back more experienced, definitely. Having spoken to him, he’s hungry to get on the pitch and help the team.”
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