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Belfast Live
Sport
Gareth Fullerton

Shayne Lavery, the 'constant menace' striving to be better at Blackpool

Blackpool manager Neil Critchley has hailed Shayne Lavery as a "constant menace" who strives to be better every day.

The 23-year-old is Blackpool's top scorer this season after making the move from Linfield last summer.

Lavery has bagged 10 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions for the Seasiders this term, leaving Critchley impressed by the upward curve the young striker's career in the English Championship.

Read more: Northern Ireland teen Shea Charles helps Manchester City close in on double-treble

"It's been a big step up for him, I think he's adapted brilliantly well," Critchley told Lancs Live.

"He's a constant menace, he's like a lot of the players where we are now, they give you everything they've got and they're desperate to play at this level and desperate to improve and it's our job to help them improve.

"You can see with Shayne the qualities he's got and he's so desperate to do well that he gets frustrated with himself sometimes.

"We just have to keep working with him to get better and he will get better."

Critchley wants Lavery to enjoy a rest at the end of the Championship season, but accepts the striker will be in demand when Northern Ireland's UEFA Nations League campaign kicks-off in June.

"To come from the level he's come from to this standard of football is a big leap and also he plays international football so sometimes when our players get a break, he doesn't," Critchley added.

"I'm sure now this season, even though he's not played every game as we've tried to dip him in and out, I'm sure he probably feels like he's played a season and a half.

"So I'd like to rest him at the end of the season but he'll have to go and play with Northern Ireland in the UEFA Nations League as well."

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