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Why Rangers will see a better Lawrence Shankland as Derek McInnes to welcome new headache
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- Why Rangers will see a better Lawrence Shankland as Derek McInnes to welcome new headache
Lawrence Shankland is still working his way back to full fitness for Rangers.
Signed in the summer from Hearts, Shankland was made captain by Derek McInnes in one of his first major decisions.
The 31-year-old scored three goals in five Scottish Premiership appearances before suffering a hamstring tear against Motherwell at the start of September.
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Shankland is on the recovery trail, and it is hopeful he will be back early in the New Year.
It will be a welcome boost for McInnes to have his skipper back for what is shaping up to be a fierce title tussle with Celtic.
Former Rangers striker Kevin Kyle explained why Rangers fans can expect a better version of Shankland, even if he might not get back immediately into the starting XI.
Lawrence Shankland to benefit from Derek McInnes tweak at Rangers
Shankland was criticised for his early performances at Ranger, but was just hitting form when injury struck.
In his absence, McInnes has found good success going with two strikers in the form of Ryan Naderi and Kevin Kelsy.
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The duo have both been among the goals, and both have netted in Old Firm matches against Celtic.
Kyle consequently sees no reason why McInnes should be splitting that partnership up at this juncture.
However, he reckons that Shankland will benefit from playing with a strike partner when he is back in the fold.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show , Kyle said: "Me personally, if Kevin Kelsy and Ryan Naderi continue what they're doing then Lawrence Shankland will sit on the bench until Derek McInnes thinks otherwise.
"Those boys are scoring goals, they're taking Rangers towards the top of the table and they've got them into a final, so how could you drop two boys that have been successful?
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"Lawrence Shankland has been out for a wee while, got a wee while to go, but it's a great headache to have your main striker and captain of the club coming back.
"I think Shankland in a two up top you'll see a better Lawrence Shankland. I think at the beginning of the season he was up front on his own it was a bit more difficult but in a two I think you see more out of Shankland."
Quadruple Rangers injury update as Lawrence Shankland return date revealed Derek McInnes to welcome Rangers headache
If Rangers are to prise the title away from Celtic then they are going to need to have goals coming from all areas of the pitch.
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Shankland has been a proven source of goals in the Scottish Premiership now for a number of seasons.
Even if he does not start when he returns, having a striker with the sort of record Shankland has could be invaluable.
That will be especially true in games that are a little tight, and a little terse, because he could pop up with something influential.
These are exactly the sort of headaches McInnes will welcme, and in the meantime hopefully Naderi and Kelsy can continue to do the business.
