Dundee United striker Lawrence Shankland has answered questions about his future until he’s blue in the face – but the only colour for him right now is tangerine.
Shankland says he’s in no rush to move on from United. In fact, the 25-year-old is loving life at Tannadice.
Courier Sport spoke to the Scotland international just days after his wonder goal against St Johnstone caught the eye of fans, players and ex-pros across the UK.
But it hasn’t been the easiest of seasons for Shankland and he is candid about the challenges playing for a newly promoted top flight team brings.
Life in the top flight with Dundee United
His record – four goals in 19 appearances (an ankle problem saw him miss five games) – has led to questions from pundits about his performances.
Some say his unselfish approach and willingness to drop deeper than ever before to link play is hurting his numbers.
What a goal by Lawrence Shankland… 52.98 yards out 😲🚀 pic.twitter.com/OITLfpjwP0
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) January 13, 2021
Others think United are too defensive to get the best out of their talisman.
However, Shankland’s self-belief is unshaken.
He said: “This year is my first year in the Premiership with United and that’s what I looked to do when I signed.
“(The aim) was to get promoted and get myself back in this league playing for a good club.
“I’ve done that and now it’s just a case of working away and seeing how high up this table we can get.
“I’ll look to play my part in that by performing well and getting a few more goals before the end of the season.
“I’d be more than happy with that when the end of the season comes.
“People have been asking me if it’s disappointing (not scoring as many goals as usual) but I’ve not felt that at all.
“It’s been a different season and we’re playing in a completely different league.
‘No rush to go anywhere right now’
“We’ve gone from being in control of every game and being a possession team creating chances galore to going up a league where things change. Sometimes you need to be a bit more defensive.
“It’s been a whole host of things but I’m enjoying my football here and we’re doing well as a team so I don’t see why I’d be in any rush to go anywhere right now.”
Recent displays suggest Shankland is getting closer to his best.
His spectacular 53-yard strike past Saints keeper Zander Clark at Tannadice is perhaps the most obvious indicator of where his performance levels are at.
His January 2 outing against Aberdeen, however, was one which really impressed manager Micky Mellon.
🗣 "I'm happy to do it in front of a few cardboard cutouts if you're going to score goals like that."
🎥 Hear from manager Micky Mellon and Lawrence Shankland after tonight's 2-2 draw with St Johnstone. Full reactions will be available on DUTV shortly.#UnitedTogether pic.twitter.com/sLoo20HZc0
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) January 12, 2021
After the game, the United boss also urged his player to stop “wearing the weight of expectation on himself”.
Shankland said: “I’m getting there. The last few weeks I’ve played pretty well.
“My all-round game has been decent – up at Aberdeen I could’ve had a couple goals and then it comes against St Johnstone.
“Sometimes you just need a wee change in fortune and, hopefully, that was it and I can kick on from now. I’m doing my bit and can be happy.
Return to form for Dundee United talisman
“Not much has changed – you just get times when your form does naturally dip.
“It happens to everybody and it comes at different points so I might’ve taken a wee dip, but I’ve found myself just plugging on.
“I’m starting to get back to the way I feel I should be playing and I know myself and people who watch me most weeks know that’s the case.
“Obviously, as a striker you get judged on how many goals you’ve scored and that’s it.
“But if people were there watching us every week they’d see that I’m partaking in what the team needs to do.
“The performances have been good and I know that myself so it’s not overly worrying for me.
“Of course, I’d like to have scored more goals.
“But there’s been a change of system and we’ve been adapting (to it) from the start of the season, with a new manager coming in with a different way of playing.
“There’s been a lot for us to adapt to and I think we took a wee while to find our way but we’re getting there now.
“As a team we are starting to score more goals and if we can keep doing that – and stop them going in at the other end while turning draws into wins – we’ll be in a right good place in the table.
“We already are but it would be an even stronger position.”
National service for Lawrence Shankland?
Beyond club commitments, Shankland also has an eye on earning a place in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the European Championships this summer.
He was part of the pool that helped Scotland get to their first major finals in 23 years, prompting a national wave of euphoria.
But the striker knows his involvement at the qualification stage is no guarantee of involvement when the main event comes around.
He said: “You’d be daft not to (be desperate to be involved), everybody would love to be there.
“But it’s one of those things where anything can happen between now and the end of the season.
“It’s a long time and there’s a lot of football to be played so you’ve just got to hope that you’re in good form when it comes round to the squad getting picked.
“If you stay injury free and if you’re playing decent, you’ve got a chance. That’s the way I look at it.
“Hopefully I’ll be in the mix.”