Robbie Neilson will tell Lawrence Shankland to stay at Dundee United for at least one more season – for the sake of his own blossoming career.
The Tannadice striker, who bagged 28 goals to help the club win promotion to Premiership, is now in the Scotland squad and a SFWA Player of the Year contender.
Neilson knows potential suitors will be taking a keen interest in the 24-year-old but firmly believes the next step on his career pathway is to rip up the top flight.
The United gaffer insists he was convinced that Shankland would be a success at Tannadice and knows he can now take his game to another level.
Neilson said: “I had no doubts that Lawrence would do what he has done for United. I didn’t just know that he’d score goals to get us promoted.
“I also know he’ll get goals in the Premiership as well. That’s because he’s a natural finisher.
“Lawrence is a clever lad, that’s one of the reasons why we took him.
“He has reflected on moving from Queen’s Park to Aberdeen as a kid and it was too big a step for him at that time.
“Before coming here, he had offers to go to England but didn’t want to make the same mistake.
“He wanted to sign for us and move through the levels, which he has done.
“The next step for him is the Scottish top flight then he can maybe make another move.
“It’s been a phenomenal year for him, playing for Scotland, now he’s a Player of the Year candidate.
“But he has not done anything that I didn’t expect him to do.
“We hope it continues now in the top flight.”
