Shanks should be proud of himself

VIRGIL VAN DIJK took a nice stroll down memory lane with his social media post at the weekend.

- MICHAEL GANNON

The Dutchman put up a picture of back in his Celtic days going up against a young Andy Robertson at Dundee United.

We've come a long way brother, the big man said.

Van Dijk could have dug out another snap with the same sentiment. The Netherlands and Anfield superstar probably doesn't remember it, but it wasn't just Robbo who he went up against all those years ago.

There was another guy out there who crossed paths with van Dijk who has been on an equally impressive journey.

It was a fleeting meeting, mind you. Lawrence Shankland squared up with the Dutch master in Amsterdam nine years after the pair first met.

Three minutes was all it lasted, as Shankland was lobbed on as a late sub for Aberdeen as a teenager in a narrow defeat to Ronny Deila's Hoops in 2015. Van Dijk could be forgiven for that one slipping his mind.

But it's unlikely he'll forget the last encounter - even if some folk thinking it was only memorable for Shanks missing his big chance for Scotland.

The Hearts hitman's second-half blast against the bar has fuelled some critics to suggest it means the Tynecastle striker isn't cut out for this level.

It's a nonsense of course. How about the fact Shankland got into the position and was a couple of inches away from a leveller?

What about when he slipped out of van Dijk's grasp in the first half to almost steer a header on target?