From Queen’s Park to Dunfermline, then Aberdeen, St Mirren, Morton, and Ayr United, Shankland’s career path has been a winding journey that finally began to pay off in the summer of 2017.
It was at Ayr where he met manager Ian McCall, who became both mentor and friend. “Our relationship had a rocky start,” McCall recalls. “He left me standing for 45 minutes at Lochinch training centre, armed with the loan forms to bring him to Ayr from Aberdeen.”
McCall later explained that his frustration stemmed from a sudden call about Shankland’s move to Morton, a situation he described as “the first and last time he ever let me down.” Despite this setback, McCall never abandoned him and eventually persuaded the striker to join Ayr.
Shankland delivered immediately, scoring in nine of his first ten games as the club competed in League One. He finished the season with 29 goals in 33 appearances, playing a pivotal role in Ayr’s promotion. In the Championship, he netted 34 times in 41 matches.
McCall noted that it became clear early on that Shankland was playing below his true potential. “He can score every type of goal—tap‑ins, headers, right‑foot and left‑foot shots, curling drives, chips, and occasionally from 50 yards,” he said.
After moving to Dundee United, Shankland showcased his range with a 53‑yard strike against St Johnstone in January 2021, a move reminiscent of Kenny McLean’s famous long‑range goal.
“Having such varied abilities signals a future at the highest levels,” McCall added. “The challenge was that it took longer than we had anticipated for him to reach that stage.”