For the first time since 2013, the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year shortlist features no players from Celtic or Rangers, marking a seismic shift in the landscape of Scottish football. The four nominees, all from outside the Old Firm, reflect a season of dramatic change and rising talent across the top flight.
The Contenders
Hearts dominate the shortlist with two nominees: Portuguese forward Claudio Braga and captain Lawrence Shankland. Braga, a summer signing, has been a revelation, netting 14 goals and providing five assists in 34 league appearances to lead the Jambos' title charge. Shankland, the 2024 winner, has scored 13 goals in 25 games despite missing time through injury, helping Hearts sit three points clear of Celtic at the summit (source).
Motherwell's Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise complete the list. Just, a New Zealand winger, has registered seven goals and eight assists in 31 games, propelling the Steelmen to fourth place. Maswanhise, the league's top scorer with 17 goals in 31 appearances, has thrived under manager Jens Berthel Askou after managing just five goals last season.
Key Takeaways
- Historic break: First time since 2013 that no Celtic or Rangers player is nominated for the top men's award.
- Hearts' dominance: Two nominees from the league leaders, who are chasing a first title since 1960.
- Rising stars: Maswanhise's 17 goals make him the league's top scorer, while Just has been a creative force.
- Young Player shake-up: Nominees include Falkirk's Barney Stewart, Arbroath's Findlay Marshall, Dundee's Luke Graham, and Rangers' on-loan winger Mikey Moore.
Young Player of the Year Race
The Young Player of the Year shortlist also reflects a changing guard. Falkirk's Barney Stewart, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Dunfermline, has scored eight Premiership goals for the Bairns. Arbroath's Findlay Marshall is the only nominee from outside the top flight, with 11 goals and two assists for the Championship side. Dundee defender Luke Graham has started 33 of 34 league matches, while Rangers' on-loan winger Mikey Moore, 18, has six goals and two assists for the Gers.
In the SWPL, Glasgow City duo Lee Gibson and Nicole Kozlova are nominated alongside Hearts' Georgia Timms and Rangers' Katie Wilkinson. Rangers also have two Young Player nominees: Laura Berry and May Cruft, with Hibernian's Rosie Livingstone and Glasgow City's Lisa Forrest completing the list.
Fans can also vote for the Scottish Premiership Goal of the Season, with 12 candidates including Aberdeen's Marko Lazetic, Celtic's Reo Hatate, and Rangers' Youssef Chermiti (vote here).
For more on the season's twists, check out our Scottish Premiership coverage and Hearts page.