Barry Ferguson has offered to meet Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland for a coffee, saying he understands the strain of leading the club and backs the striker to prove critics wrong.
Ferguson reaches out to Shankland
Writing in his column, the former Rangers captain said he is more than happy to sit down with Shankland to talk things through. He described himself as a huge fan of the Scotland striker and said he was delighted to see him complete his move to the club he supported as a boy.
Ferguson said no one wants to see Shankland succeed at Rangers more than he does, adding that he is desperate for players like him to enjoy the success he experienced at the club. He said Shankland knows he is there for him if there is anything he can do to help him through this difficult period.
Shankland's journey to the top
Ferguson praised Shankland's career story, noting that after being released at Aberdeen it would have been easy for him to give up on his hopes of a career in the game. Instead, he moved to Ayr United and gradually worked his way to the top of Scottish football and into the national team.
Ferguson said Shankland has had to prove people wrong at every step of that journey and believes he will make those critics who are writing him off at Rangers eat their words. As a lifelong fan himself, Ferguson said he knows the pride Shankland will have felt at being given the honour and responsibility of being captain at the start of the season.
Pressure on the captain
Ferguson said he understands the strain and pressure that wearing the armband places on a player, especially when things are not going well at the club. He acknowledged that things have been far from perfect so far for Shankland and manager Derek McInnes, with the squad at Ibrox still not finalised.
He said it is not fair to judge the team this early, certainly not until the transfer window is closed. Ferguson agreed with McInnes's recent comment that Shankland is not the kind of player who can create a goal out of nothing, and said as a frontman he relies on those around him for service. Until McInnes brings in the wingers he has been asking for, Ferguson said it would be incredibly harsh to jump to conclusions.
Frustration on the pitch
Ferguson said he understands the frustration Shankland will be feeling since his move from Hearts. He pointed to last weekend's Premier Sports Cup win over St Mirren, where Shankland came off the bench and hit the base of the post. While the rest of the team celebrated with Ross McCausland after his rebound goal, Shankland was kicking himself for not scoring in the first place.
Ferguson said he went through something similar during his own time as captain, blaming himself for losses and shutting everyone out. He said that negative thought process ended up working positively for him, giving him the kick he needed to increase his effort levels and determination.
He believes Shankland will be thinking the same way now, having started the last two games on the bench. Ferguson noted that on Thursday night, Shankland trudged straight down the tunnel after coming off the bench late in the 1-0 win over Conference League opponents Jablonec.
Role off the pitch
Ferguson said he would not be surprised to see Shankland prowling around the training ground like a caged lion, desperate to show he is still the goalscorer who nearly fired Hearts to an incredible title win last season. Even if McInnes does not pick Shankland for this week's return match against the Czechs, Ferguson said he still has a huge role to play off it.
He said the heat is on for the players after a stuttering start, and this is when big characters need to stand up and show a unified front. Ferguson said Rangers need Shankland to lead that from the front, even if he is again asked to take a seat on the bench. He said Shankland has to trust that the club will give McInnes the new signings he is after, and that soon enough he will be feasting on the crosses he thrives on.
Ferguson reiterated that Shankland knows where he is, and that he is free any time for a blether and a coffee, adding that it will not be long before this all seems like a storm in a teacup.
