Is Shankland finally waiting for the Scotland striker?

He took the long road to Boston, Queen’s Park to Dunfermline, Dunfermline to Aberdeen, Aberdeen to St Mirren and then Morton and Ayr United in the summer of 2017, when things started to happen for him.

It was there that he encountered Ian McCall, Eyre’s manager who became Shankland’s mentor and friend.

“Our relationship got off to a rocky start,” McCall says. “He brought me from Aberdeen to Ayr armed with a loan form for 45 minutes at Lochinch Training Centre.

“I only found out when I got a call from Wayne Coyle (a good friend of Lawrence senior) that he was going to Cappillo to sign for Morton. I was a bit angry – it was the first and last time he let me down.”

McCall never gave up on him and eventually convinced the striker to join him at Ayr.

Shankland scored in nine of his first 10 games for the club, who were then in League One. He finished the season with 29 in 33 and helped them gain promotion. He then hit 34 for 41 in the Championship

“It became clear very early on that he was playing below where he was capable of playing,” said his former manager. “He can score every type of goal; tap in, header, right foot, left foot, curler, drive, chip and on the odd occasion from 50 yards…”

Shankland launched one from halfway – Kenny McLean style – against St Johnstone after leaving Ayr to join Dundee United in January 2021.

“When you put his diverse abilities it was clear he was going to reach a high level,” McCall said. “But it took longer than we both thought.”