Lawrence Shankland Interview

"It's always better when you come into a division and playing against men in front of supporters.

Dunfermline's latest acquisition, Lawrence Shankland, spoke to the media on Thursday but was still a little confused as to how his move had come about:-

"I think they got in contact with the gaffer and the gaffer told me last week that he was interested in sending me out because it would be a good experience. I was interested in it as well so I jumped at the chance.

"It is a great club and I heard that from the assistant at Aberdeen who used to play here when he was younger. He said it was a well-run club, it was very professional, and that made me want it more.

"I've scored something like nine goals in 14 games in the Under 20s up at Aberdeen, so it's been decent. I had a slow start but I got there in the end halfway through the season. I've been up front myself in the Under 20s because we play a lone striker with three supporting players around about me, but it's been working well. I played against Dunfermline with the Under 20s and scored when we won 3-0, I think, so that was decent.

"It's a really strong squad at Aberdeen and it's a big squad with a lot of experienced players. I'm still only young and hopefully if I can score a few goals for Dunfermline it will stand me in good stead to get into the first team at Aberdeen. You look at the likes of Stevie May and he's been at a few clubs and is playing regular in the first team at St Johnstone, so it can only be good coming here.

"All the boys have been really good with me and have been really welcoming. The Club are doing really well and the play-offs is obviously a big thing, so I just hope I can help the Club get there.

"It helps having something to aim for - the 20s is always good to play in but it's always better when you come into a division and playing against men in front of supporters. You get a bit of attention if you are doing well as well, so I'm looking forward to it."

Lawrence made 39 appearances for Queens Park so he has tasted first team football before. He made his first team debut when only 16 and became a regular in the side throughout the following season. The amateurs are quite a well-known club for bringing players through, there have been quite a few over the years who have got good moves. Lawrence Shankland along with Andy Robertson and Aidan Connolly are the most recent to get a move to a bigger stage. Robertson and Connolly are at Dundee United and Lawrence added:-

"Seeing how well Andrew Robertson has done, it does inspire you. He's a year older than me, so it makes me more confident about next year and what I can achieve. He's gone in there at United and took his chance and it's paid off, so hopefully it can pay off for me. You see some of the clubs he's been linked with and it's just crazy.

"He was on expenses last year and now there are teams from the Premier League down in England wanting to sign him, so fair play to him. He's done brilliantly. I text him a lot and he's saying he's enjoying it at Dundee United, although I wouldn't speak to him about the transfer talk - that's personal. But he's enjoying his football and it's good to see."

Continuing full-time coupled with the move back to the Central Belt has allowed Lawrence to move back home to Glasgow. Lawrence is hoping that he can score a few goals for Dunfermline and impress the manager:-

"Hopefully I can get in the team - that's the first target. If I can get that and take it from there and score a few goals.

"Jim Jefferies' got a lot of experience in the game at the top level so I'm sure I'll learn a lot off him. Training's been really good and I've enjoyed it because it's a good standard."

Lawrence is well qualified to recognise what that looks like since at Aberdeen he has been training alongside the likes of Barry Robson, who was an internationalist and has played in the Champions League. He described himself as a target man:-

"I'm not the quickest but I'm decent at holding the ball up and I'm alright at putting the ball in the net as well. Hopefully I can do that again here."