How Lawrence Shankland proved Derek McInnes' advice right and what it means for Rangers

Derek McInnes has always been in Lawrence Shankland's corner, even when the now-Rangers pair parted ways many years ago.

It was only a matter of weeks ago when the notion of McInnes and Shankland working together as manager and star player at Rangers was almost laughable.

But, the 26 May 2026 will go down as the day Gers fans knew their team meant business this summer, as Shankland swapped Tynecastle for Ibrox in a move that stunned Scottish football.

And after Danny Rohl's equally shocking departure as head coach, McInnes reunited with his former Hearts hitman in Glasgow, but it's not the first time they've worked together.

Indeed, it was McInnes who brought Shankland to Aberdeen in the summer of 2013, and the one who oversaw his Pittodrie exit in 2017.

Leaving for Ayr United at the time, McInnes left Shankland with some parting advice, and the striker certainly took it.

What did Derek McInnes tell Lawrence Shankland he needed to improve at?

Over a two-year spell with Ayr between 2017-2019, Shankland scored 63 goals in 74 games, having failed to find the net in 17 career games for Aberdeen respectively.

It was this form that paved the way for his big move to Dundee United in the summer of 2019, before later signing with Belgian side Beerschot and then eventually Hearts in 2023.

As a result of Shankland's form after leaving Aberdeen, many questioned McInnes' decision to let the striker leave at the time.

But speaking in a January 2019 interview via the Daily Record, McInnes defended his transfer exit, and explained why things didn't work out for him at Aberdeen.

“He always knew how to finish but to play up a level, to play for our club as the main striker, he needed to be more rounded, more athletic, stronger – be more than just a finisher," he said.

"He wasn’t that, and he’ll admit it himself. I’m delighted to see him doing so well."

In the years that have since followed, Shankland has clearly taken on board what McInnes had said regarding what he felt needed adding to his all-round game.

As per FotMob, Shankland ranked in the top 5.4 percentile of all Scottish Premiership strikers for his 59 defensive contributions in 2025-26, as well as placing in the top 7.1 per cent for his 22 tackles won.

In 2024-25, he finished in the leading 7.5 per cent of his positional rivals for aerial duels won, as well as the top 9.4 percentile for winning 123 duels respectively.

After adding these elements to his game, the 30-year-old has now established himself as one of, if not the deadliest goalscorer in Scottish football.

Some players struggle or don't evolve new traits whatsoever, but Shankland absolutely became the more physical and imposing striker that McInnes wanted him to be.

And, speaking in that same interview, the now-Rangers boss has, unknowingly at the time of course, dropped a huge hint on the Rangers future of Youssef Chermiti.

Why McInnes needs Chermiti for Shankland's sake

Ibrox News has been reporting on Rangers' transfer decision on whether to sell Chermiti or not this summer.

The 22-year-old fired home 15 times in 30 Scottish Premiership games in his debut campaign last term, and has been widely linked with a potential big-money move away from Ibrox as a result.

But, as McInnes has already outlined in that aforementioned 2019 interview, the way to get the best out of Shankland is by playing another quality striker alongside him.

"He’s found a place beside another striker, the system suits him, he’s sharing the workload up there and he’s getting to where he needs to be in front of goal," the then-Aberdeen gaffer said of Shankland at Ayr.

Outside of Chermiti, Rangers don't really have a proven goalscorer to pair him with, as Bojan Miovski's form in front of goal isn't what it was during his time at Aberdeen.

Ryan Naderi remains a raw talent, and one that may be better-suited to playing behind the main striker(s), whilst Danilo is expected to leave Ibrox this summer.

Selling Chermiti would see McInnes go against his long-held belief about Shankland in a front two, and he's surely going to want to play with a strike pairing at Rangers.

With these two leading the line, in addition to the other impressive signings already through the door, Rangers will feel as confident as ever that they've got what it takes to lift Scottish Premiership title number 56 in 2026-27.