Shankland lands PFA Scotland player of the year award

EDINBURGH: Hearts skipper Lawrence Shankland has been named as PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year.

The 28-year-old striker has scored 28 goals for Hearts as well as one with Scotland this season and is likely to be included in Steve Clarke’s squad for this summer’s European Championships in Germany.

Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland was on a four-man list alongside team-mate James Tavernier and Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley. Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson was voted PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year.

The 19-year-old has helped Killie into fourth place in the cinch Premiership and scored twice against leaders Celtic.Lennon Miller of Motherwell, Dundee’s Lyall Cameron and Rangers winger Ross McCausland were the other nominees. Falkirk’s John McGlynn was left with an “amazing” feeling after being named PFA Scotland Manager of the Year. The 62-year-old led the Bairns to an unbeaten League One campaign as champions and secured promotion to the Championship.

Other nominees for the award, in association with Scottish Managers & Coaches Association, were Kilmarnock’s Derek McInnes and Dundee’s Tony Docherty. Rangers boss Jo Potter was named Scottish Women’s Premier League 1 Manager of the Year as the Light Blues completed a notable treble.

Rachel Rowe was voted PFA Scotland SWPL 1 Player of the Year winner and Mia McAulay won the PFA Scotland SWPL 1 Young Player of the Year awardRangers, who won the Sky Sports Cup earlier in the season, are vying with Old Firm rivals Celtic at the top of the league ahead of their meeting on Monday and are in the Scottish Cup final against Hearts at Hampden Park. The other nominees were Hibernian’s Grant Scott and Partick Thistle’s Brian Graham, although the Jags boss, who doubles as striker for the Maryhill men’s side, was crowned Championship Player of the Year.

The 36-year-old striker has scored 24 goals this season to earn a play-off spot, where they will take on Airdrieonians.Falkirk winger Callumn Morrison was named League 1 Player of the Year while 34-year-old Stenhousemuir defender Gregor Buchanan won the League 2 award.