Arbroath striker Kieran Shanks will be given his chance when the ‘time is right’, according to No.2 Ian Campbell.
The young striker was an unused substitute for the second game in a row on Saturday, when the Lichties lost out 2-0 at home to Ayr United.
The Gayfield side started and ended the game without a recognised striker while chasing a goal.
Forwards Shanks, Dale Hilson and Kareem Isiaka were on the bench but not called upon.
Saturday’s game was also the third in succession where an out-and-out forward was not in the starting XI.
Shanks was brought to the club in the summer after notching 30 goals in 40 games for Inverurie Locos in the Highland League last campaign.
At the time, ‘Pink’ said the Locos’ top scorer was ‘one for the future’.
The Gayfield faithful, however, are growing increasingly restless at their side’s lacklustre start to the season after firing blank for the seventh time at the weekend.
Dick Campbell’s men have only scored eight goals in their opening 13 games, the fewest in the division.
Shanks has scored one of those, but has only seen 257 minutes of action.
Striker will get chance ‘when time right’
Asked for the reasoning behind the 20-year-old not seeing much game time, Ian Campbell told Arbroath TV: “I’m sure the fans are looking for a magic wand that will change everything.
“Shanks is a good player. It’s up to us to make sure when the game and the time is right he’ll get a game.
“There are loads of other players who are not playing and some of those who are, aren’t playing the way we want them to.
“We respect the fans views but you don’t pick the game from the stand.
“You pick it before the game at 2pm and if it works, great.
“I like Kieran, so we all do. He’s full of effort and commitment but we need to make sure the time is right for him.
“He’ll get his chance, probably soon.”
