If there is one Rangers man who would have been effectively gutted by Rangers’ victories over Celtic, it is Lawrence Shankland. That is not to say, of course, that he wanted us to lose. Of course not. But boy would Shankland have given absolutely everything to be involved in those results. He is a Rangers fan, truly one of us, and wants nothing but the best for the club. However, Lawrence Shankland Rangers supporters know he would have been absolutely gutted to miss those matches. He did of course suffer his injury only a week or two earlier.
Lawrence Shankland misses out
In many senses, Rangers’ form over the past 15 days means Shankland has unfortunately become slightly forgotten. He arrived at Ibrox amid huge fanfare as a high profile signing who had finally got the move of his dreams. Rangers had been after him for many years. Rangers fans en masse had wanted him for many years too. Finally, he got his move under his Rangers-supporting manager in Derek McInnes and came home to Govan.
However, his start proved slow at best before his form finally kicked in beautifully with an outstanding double. Then, immediately afterwards, injury struck and essentially ruled him out until early 2027. Consequently, he missed two of the biggest matches of the season against Celtic. Few Rangers fans can have anything but enormous sympathy for Lawrence Shankland Rangers finally signed only for his luck to turn so cruelly.
Shankland denied his Old Firm dream
While he obviously was not gutted with the results and would have been thrilled for the lads after the outstanding victories at Ibrox and Parkhead, he would have been completely devastated to miss out on them personally. These are the matches he has waited his whole life to play in.
Lawrence Shankland’s dream, like that of any Rangers lad, is surely to play in an Old Firm match. It does not get more intense or better than that. For these matches to go as well as they did while he played no part would have been absolutely gut wrenching. We really do feel for Shankland.
Rangers striker suffers cruel luck
His dream move to Rangers initially started as an absolute nightmare. There were no goals, his performances lacked impact and the team was a mess. Then, eventually, he finally hit some form and produced an outstanding double, showing that he was truly back and ready to do it for Rangers at long last. Immediately afterwards, he suffered the injury.
His luck has been wretched and it is extremely cruel. Someone out there does not seem to want him to thrive at Rangers for some reason. To see Rangers get the results against Celtic that we did, both at Ibrox and Parkhead, while unable to play any part must have been incredibly difficult for him.
Lawrence waits for Rangers return
However, Shankland is a Rangers man and would have wanted nothing but the best for the team. Just as we all do. He would have celebrated those victories as much as any supporter. Even while desperately wishing he could have contributed on the pitch.
For Lawrence Shankland Rangers remains the move he waited years to make. It is therefore such a gutter for him that two of the greatest moments since his arrival came while injury forced him to watch every minute from the sidelines.