Derek McInnes Backs Lawrence Shankland to Shine at Rangers
Derek McInnes is backing Lawrence Shankland to become a decisive force at Rangers, insisting the striker is “too good not to score regularly” despite a quiet start to life at Ibrox.
Shankland has managed just one goal in five appearances since his summer move, and watched most of Sunday’s 5-1 League Cup win over St Mirren from the bench as Rangers finally claimed their first victory of the season.
For McInnes, that slow start is little more than background noise.
McInnes unmoved by Shankland scrutiny
The Rangers manager knows exactly what Shankland can do. Under McInnes at Hearts last season, the Scotland international plundered 22 goals and led the line with authority. That track record is why he refuses to fret now.
“When you have a player like Lawrence, who knows his way around the penalty box and how to score goals, I do not worry too much about it,” McInnes said.
“Sometimes people can over emphasise these things. For me, it is a case of letting him play his natural game.
“The best strikers have that instinctive side to their game, where everything looks natural and seamless. I have no doubt he will do well here.”
On Sunday, McInnes backed Ryan Naderi to spearhead the attack from the start against St Mirren. The German repaid that call by opening the scoring, while Nico Raskin wore the armband in Shankland’s place.
That decision underlined a clear message inside the Rangers dressing room.
“I said that when I spoke to Lawrence,” McInnes explained. “Being captain does not guarantee anything, and he accepted that. He is not going to stamp his feet about it.
“Having worked with Lawrence before, he is a brilliant captain and a brilliant boy. You want your captain to have a big influence on and off the pitch, and I believe Lawrence will have that.”
For now, Shankland’s influence may come in bursts rather than from the first whistle. McInnes, though, is adamant the goals will follow once the forward settles into his new surroundings and rhythm.
Raskin praised amid transfer noise
While Shankland wrestles with early scrutiny, Raskin continues to live under a different kind of spotlight. The Belgium midfielder has been heavily linked with a move away, but McInnes insists his professionalism has never dipped.
“Every player's got a price,” the manager said of the 25-year-old. “Every player has got a time where it maybe suits them to move on, suits the club or whatever.
“But I think it's important for me to say that Nico's been a dream since we came in, in terms of how he's set about his work, and he doesn't look like a boy who's distracted in any way with that.
“I've no doubt there's a lot of stuff going on in the background with him. I just need to play it by ear really to be honest. I'm enjoying working with him.”
Raskin’s composure in the middle of the park and his willingness to shoulder responsibility were on show again against St Mirren, and McInnes clearly views him as central to what Rangers are trying to build, for however long he remains in Glasgow.
Jablonec test looms in Europe
Domestic relief quickly gives way to European jeopardy. On Thursday, Rangers host Jablonec in the first leg of a Conference League play-off tie that will go a long way to defining the early tone of their season.
The Czech side arrive in Glasgow on a six-game winning run, full of confidence and rhythm. McInnes is wary of their threat, but refuses to get bogged down in the favourites debate.
“It's difficult to really assess who are the favourites,” he admitted. “It's just a game that we put the emphasis on ourselves to go and win.
“They're clearly a well-organised team. They've got a few good individuals who can make the game a bit more problematic for you, but we feel as though we've got a good handle on what they are.
“They can change from shape to shape a lot even within the same personnel so we've got to be ready for that.”
The message is clear: control what you can control.
“I'm just really trying to concentrate on us finding our level and us getting big performances,” McInnes added. “If we can do that then, although I'm expecting a tough game, I expect it to be tougher for them.”
A resurgent Rangers, a hungry Jablonec, and a proven finisher still searching for his stride. If McInnes is right about Shankland, this could be the week the narrative around his Ibrox career starts to change.
