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Kenny McLean has compared reported Rangers and Celtic target Lawrence Shankland with Teemu Pukki, .
that both the Gers and the Hoops had scouts in attendance to watch Shankland in action for Dundee United.
That day he bagged a hat-trick to take his tally for the season to 15 goals. And it is not just the Old Firm who have recognised his form, with Steve Clarke handing the 24-year-old his maiden call-up to the Scotland national team for this international break.
And McLean – who was on the books at Aberdeen at the same time as Shankland – suggested that he is not surprised to see the striker proving a point after previously struggling in the Scottish Premiership, just as his Norwich City teammate is doing right now.
“He didn’t play much [at Aberdeen], he had a couple of appearances here and there but scored maybe 30 goals in the Under-20s at the time. It’s just that habit of hitting the net, he’s got that habit,” . “That’s an art for strikers really and the types of finishes he gives you are so varied. He finishes from anywhere and he’s just such a threat.
“People speak about Teemu Pukki when he was in Scotland and now he’s banging goals in in the Premier League. So for a striker it’s sometimes hard to gauge how far they can go but if he continues to score then there’s no limits for him really.
“If he wants to come down south then I’m sure he’d do well but if he goes up to the Premiership with Dundee United then I’ve no doubt he’ll score goals in that league as well.”
TBR’s View
Pukki – who endured a tough time at Celtic – has been a revelation since arriving at Carrow Road on a free transfer. He scored 29 goals in the Championship last term, and has started his first Premier League campaign with six goals in eight games.
It will be interesting to see whether Rangers or Celtic decide to offer Shankland another shot at the highest level. His form for Ayr and now Dundee United hints that he could make the kind of impact Pukki has made with the Canaries.
The Gers and the Hoops will certainly be kicking themselves if they see him move elsewhere and produce the form that Pukki has shown at Norwich.