League One challengers Sunderland reportedly offered Lawrence Shankland a contract before he joined Scottish Championship outfit Dundee United.
Lawrence Shankland just cannot stop scoring right now.
After hitting the net 62 times in just 73 outings in his final two seasons at the heart of Ayr United’s attack, Shankland is now averaging more than a goal-a-game in his new surroundings.
Dundee United snapped up the most lethal striker in Scottish football on a free transfer when his Ayr contract expired in the summer. And it is fair to say Shankland hasn’t disappointed.
A hat-trick in Saturday’s 6-0 thrashing of Morton, two tap-ins followed by a brilliant individual effort, means the Glasgow-born goal-machine has plundered 13 goals in just 11 matches since joining the Tangerines. Did we mention he was signed for absolutely nothing?
So if you can hear a dull thud emanating from somewhere in the Wearside region, that is just the sound of Sunderland kicking themselves.
According to the Northern Echo, the Black Cats offered Shankland a contract over the summer before he decided against moving south of the border.
This season, Will Grigg, Charlie Wyke and Marc McNulty, a strike force which cost a combined £5 million, have found the net just six times between them in all competitions with a lack of firepower potentially costing Jack Ross’s side dear once again in the League One title race.
Things might have been different if Shankland was wearing red and white rather than luminous orange.
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