'I feel I can get better'

The 27-year-old heads the Irish Premiership goalscoring charts with eight goals but maintains he doesn’t believe he is in the prime of his career just yet.

Which is a worrying thought for opposition defences, given that the Ballymena man has scored 14 goals in his last 16 league games.

Shevlin, who made his Irish League bow as a 15-year-old at Ballymena United, was speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s visit to Seaview to face Crusaders.

“It's hard to say I'm in my prime as I constantly feel I can get better,” said Shevlin.

“I'll not say I'm in my prime yet - hopefully that’s still ahead of me.

“Usually I wouldn't really take notice of the figures that far back but I knew I finished last season with nine goals in six games so I knew coming into this season that if I started well it would be a good return.

“Thankfully I have started well so long may it continue. The team has been playing really well from the split last season right through to now so I'm just thankful to my team mates for creating so many chances for me and thankfully I've been able to put some of them away.

“The coaching staff here have definitely helped me and I think my all round game has improved over the last year: I've added different parts to my game rather than just goalscoring.

“My goalscoring record before the gaffer came in was good as well so, thankfully, I've been consistent during my time at Coleraine and hopefully we keep going and finish the season well,” he added.

The Bannsiders currently top the Boyle Sports Premiership table, but only by two points from Linfield who came from behind to beat Larne 2-1 at Inver Park on Tuesday night.

“The game could have gone either way but the result doesn't shock me,” he said.

“Linfield are a great side and you can never, ever right Linfield off -even though plenty of people do all the time. Their history speaks for itself.

“You can never write Linfield off in the league title race so we know they'll be there or thereabouts come the end of the season – hopefully we're above them.

“We've had a strong start to the season but ultimately we're only 12 games in. We can't keep looking back and thinking we're happy with our start, we need to keep going.

“We know that every game in this league is tough and we need to pay respect to Crusaders for Saturday as well. It'll be a tough game going there as they've been good this season.

“It'll definitely not be the same type of game as earlier in the season. Obviously we're away from home, so, naturally that makes it harder and I expect a really tough game but, hopefully, we can get the three points and keep adding to the table.”