While every single Rangers fan is thrilled at the capture of Lawrence Shankland, there is one caveat that many have nevertheless added about the signature of the now former Hearts man.
Rangers’ new striker, who bagged an outstanding brace for Scotland against Curacao at Hampden yesterday, has arrived in Govan at long last, but of course, at the age of 30.
Many Rangers fans have observed this as a caveat, saying ‘should have been three or four years ago’.
Now while we agree on a certain level with that statement, there is a big flaw and omission that it overlooks.
The Harry Kane Comparison
That is the fact of the fallacy that is Harry Kane.
Now by no means are we calling the Lawman Harry Kane reincarnate. However, Harry Kane joined Bayern Munich at the age of 30. At that age he is arguably ‘over the hill’ and ‘past his peak’.
Lawrence Shankland is the same age.
However, Harry Kane has been scoring for fun at Bayern. Put simply, being given the chances and getting the service, on top of his own ability, led to the English superstar becoming the most in form striker on the planet. His first season alone was 56 goals and assists in 45 appearances.
He was scoring well over one in one and assisting as well. His numbers were through the roof, all because he was now with world class players who supplied him with chances he did not get at Tottenham.
At Tottenham, of course, we know he was a machine. He was a top striker and world class. But he did not get to truly express that because the chances were not there.
Not like they are now in Munich.
Circumstances Matter More Than Age
And there we bring in Shankland.
Rangers have a striker of the same age who is at his absolute peak. With the chances he will get at Ibrox, and the level of service he should get, assuming tactics support it? Shankland should absolutely obliterate all known previous goalscoring records that he might have had.
Because if we look at Harry Kane, age has nothing to do with it.
We understand why some fans offer their concerns about Shankland’s age.
However, the Kane example proves that instead of deteriorating from the age of 30, a player can in fact improve even further.
The Difference at Rangers
Obviously Kane is a world class talent and one of the best strikers England has ever had.
But Shankland has shown at Hearts just how much of a striker he is with more limited chances and less creative ability supplied to him.
At Rangers, with wingers and playmakers behind him, there is no reason why he cannot score an absolute bucket load.
A Proven Example
Harry Kane is the example of what happens when a player is given the right circumstances regardless of age.
The same really will apply to Lawrence Shankland.