Ahead of this month’s transfer window, the Scottish Sun reported that Lawrence Shankland was being tracked by both Rangers and Celtic.
That was hardly a surprising revelation, given his goalscoring exploits.
By mid December, he had 26 in all competitions and was averaging a goal every 83 minutes in the Scottish Championship.
An ill-timed injury temporarily removed the 23-year-old from the shop window, though.
Since then, he has been overtaken in the race for the Tartan Boot.
However, he returned with a cameo appearance at the weekend, before featuring last night during a Scottish Championship fixture.
Ayr lost the tie as a result of an early Inverness blitz. A brace from Nathan Austin followed by a Liam Polworth strike, meant the visitors were 3-0 up after just 18 minutes.
Not yet 100% fit, Shankland started on the bench, but was introduced at half-time.
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While he couldn’t quite do enough to turn it around, he certainly gave it a good go.
Not long after the break, he set up Declan McDaid to reduced the arrears. Then, with five minutes remaining, he whipped a free kick into the bottom left corner.
To start contributing again so quickly after almost a month on the sidelines, shows his early season form wasn’t just a flash in the pan.
This guy is good.
If Rangers don’t act now, they will surely face stiff competition in the summer.
Perhaps a late pre-contract move should be drafted up, before the window slams shut on Thursday.
