I’m a forgotten SPFL star who helped St Pauli win promotion to the Bundesliga and could now be looking for a new club
Forgotten Scottish star Scott Banks played the role of supersub on Sunday as St Pauli clinched the 2. Bundesliga title in dramatic circumstances - ending in their 12-year long wait for a return to the German top-flight.
After rising through the ranks in Dundee United's youth system to appear in the Tannadice club's first team, the Linlithgow-born midfielder won a dream move to English Premier League side Crystal Palace in January 2020. However a succession of injuries have restricted the 22-year-old to just two first team outings for the Eagles, and he has also spent time away on loan at Alloa, Dunfermline and Bradford City.
Banks, who is set to be released by the Selhurst Park club this summer, joined German second division St Pauli on a season-long loan deal last summer, but was rocked with another serious injury after tearing his ACL just three months after his arrival. But on his long-awaited comeback, the former Scotland U21 international appeared off the bench to set up his team's winning goal as Kiezkicker pipped rivals Holstein Kiel to the 2. Bundesliga crown.
St Pauli had already sealed their return to the Bundesliga with a game to spare after claiming a top two finish, but have now gone up as champions after coming from behind to beat Wehen Wiesbaden 2-1. With the scores level at 1-1 with 12 minutes remaining, Banks popped up off the bench to head the ball into the path of Danel Sinani to lash home the goal that handed St Pauli the championship, just a point ahead of fellow title hopefuls Holstein Kiel.
The Millerntor-Stadion club, who also include former Celtic midfielder and current Australia star Jackson Irvine among their ranks, have been stuck in Germany's second tier since their relegation from the Bundesliga in 2012. With Banks set to depart Palace this summer, he is likely to have suitors back home, but may also look to continue to try and forge a career for himself on the continent.