Shane Sutherland is nearing a century of strikes for Elgin City – and the forward is determined to do it with style.
Sutherland’s goal in last weekend’s 3-1 Scottish Cup win over Berwick Rangers was his 88th for the club, with the forward in his third permanent stint with City following a loan spell from Caley Thistle in 2010.
Sutherland’s excellent return of 16 goals so far this term has brought him closer to triple figures, which the Wick-born attacker hopes to achieve by the end of the campaign – if not sooner.
Sutherland, who will lead the line for City against Queen’s Park in League 2 today, said: “It’s 12 in 13 games I need to make it 100 in 200 games, which personally would be a great achievement.
“It will be tough, but I’ve got 16 in 18 so far this season. I’m going to push myself to try and get that, and if the team plays as well as we have been playing in the last four games the chances will be there and hopefully I can put some away.
“To get 100 goals for Elgin across four spells would be brilliant. I’m not going to put pressure on myself to get it this season, but having scored 16 so far, with another 29 games to play this season, I would be very disappointed come the end of the season if I didn’t get that 12.”
Sutherland’s most recent three spells at Elgin have sandwiched two separate stint with Peterhead, before he returned to Borough Briggs in the summer.
Interest from Inverness in January could have opened a return to full-time football, which remains an ambition for the 29-year-old, who added: “I just put my head down and tried to get on with it. Did it affect me? I would like to think not, but my form probably dipped a little bit.
“Was it because of that? Who knows. I just wanted to get a good pre-season under my belt, and put my head down.
“If an opportunity like that to go full-time ever arises again, wherever it may be, I will just do my best to try and grab that.
“I have always wanted to play full time and I will never close the door on that.
“Even to the day before I retire, if the chance to go full-time comes up it’s definitely something I will explore.
“The ambitious person I am, it’s what I love doing. It was the best part of my career in terms of training every day, playing at a higher level.
“I look at my part-time career, and I have won player of the year in League 2, I got a League 2 winner’s medal and played in a Petrofac Cup final with Peterhead.
“I have always had great moments playing part-time as well, but I would always encourage any young player to go full-time if they get the opportunity.”
Sutherland was disappointed with his recent spell at the Blue Toon, but feels his return to Gavin Price’s side has helped him back on track, adding: “I look back at my time at Peterhead and I’m disappointed with myself that I maybe didn’t play to my best, but it happens.
“I won a league winner’s medal which I will always look back on with fondness.
“It does seem like I play my best football at Elgin. I think it shows with the less travelling I have to do, it’s paying dividends for me with the goals I have scored.”
