Rangers manager Derek McInnes has moved to reassure supporters that Lawrence Shankland's slow start at Ibrox is nothing to be concerned about, insisting the striker's quality will inevitably shine through regardless of whether he is a regular starter.
Shankland has managed just one goal in five appearances since completing his switch to Rangers, and he was left among the substitutes on Sunday as the club secured their first victory of the season with a 5-1 thrashing of St Mirren in the League Cup. The 31-year-old Scotland international arrived at Ibrox on the back of a prolific campaign at Hearts, where he found the net 22 times last season.
Despite the underwhelming return so far in Rangers colours, McInnes remains unfazed, pointing to the striker's natural instincts in front of goal as the reason he is not concerned about the early lack of goals.
"When you have a player like Lawrence, who knows his way around the penalty box and how to score goals, I do not worry too much about it," McInnes said. "Sometimes people can over emphasise these things. For me, it is a case of letting him play his natural game."
The manager went further, suggesting that the finest forwards possess a quality that cannot be manufactured or coached, something he believes Shankland has in abundance.
"The best strikers have that instinctive side to their game, where everything looks natural and seamless," he explained. "I have no doubt he will do well here."
Against St Mirren, McInnes opted to hand a starting berth to Ryan Naderi rather than Shankland, and the decision paid off as the German forward opened the scoring in what turned out to be a comfortable afternoon for Rangers. Belgian midfielder Nico Raskin wore the captain's armband for the fixture, further underlining that Shankland's leadership status at the club does not come with any guarantee of automatic selection.
McInnes revealed that this expectation was made clear to Shankland from the outset of their working relationship being renewed at Ibrox, having previously managed the striker during his time at Hearts.
"I said that when I spoke to Lawrence," McInnes continued. "Being captain does not guarantee anything, and he accepted that. He is not going to stamp his feet about it."
The Rangers boss was full of praise for Shankland's character and leadership qualities, describing the striker as someone capable of making a genuine difference to the squad both on and off the pitch, irrespective of his role in the starting eleven.
"Having worked with Lawrence before, he is a brilliant captain and a brilliant boy," McInnes added. "You want your captain to have a big influence on and off the pitch, and I believe Lawrence will have that."
The comprehensive win over St Mirren marked a much-needed confidence boost for Rangers as they look to build momentum following a difficult start to the campaign. With competition for places clearly intensifying in attack, McInnes appears content to manage his squad on merit and form rather than reputation, trusting that Shankland's proven scoring record will ultimately speak for itself once he is afforded a run in the side.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.