Aberdeen attacker Lawrence Shankland was frustrated not to open his first team goals account against Partick Thistle on Saturday, and wants another chance when the Dons take on Caley Thistle at Pittodrie on Wednesday.
The teenager has scored 26 goals for Aberdeen’s under-20s team this season and was given his debut by manager Derek McInnes with Northern Ireland international Niall McGinn dropping out of the side.
Shankland, who scored twice against Hungary on his Scotland under-21 international debut last week, could have netted within 90 seconds, but shot over the crossbar.
It was a miss which set the tone for a frustrating afternoon for the Dons, who turned in one of its worst performances of the season.
The 19-year-old said: “It has been a good couple of weeks and Saturday was a game I will remember although we were disappointed not to get the win.
“I want to stay in the team. I’m an attacker so it’s my job to get chances and hopefully score goals.
“It was great to get the shout given how strong the squad is. I’ve been patient but I’m on a bit of a downer because we did not get the win.
“I thought my chance early was a good effort but it just went over the bar. My performance was average, but Partick made it hard for us.”
Shankland has risen from amateur football with Queen’s Park to the upper reaches of the Premiership in 18 months and is eager to continue the upward curve.
He added: “The game was a bit quicker than I have been used to, but I tried to play the same way as I do for the under-20s.
“I just need to keep focused and when my chance comes take it.
“I have made a few appearances from the bench and the manager told me on Friday he was thinking about playing me.
“We were disappointed not to win but we have to turn our focus to Wednesday and Inverness. The matches are coming thick and fast.
“We are not worrying about that anybody else does. The aim since the start of the season has been to get second place, we have eight games to go and Inverness will be a really big game.”
Scotland international Andy Robertson was a Queen’s Park team-mate before moving on to Dundee United and then the Premier League with Hull City and Shankland added: “Andy has done brilliantly and I’d love to follow in his footsteps but I’m concentrating on Aberdeen.”