Lawrence Shankland was announced as the PFA Scotland Player of the Year on Sunday night. The Hearts and Scotland forward was confirmed to have won the most votes from his colleagues in the game to beat Matt O’Riley and two Rangers players.
Shankland, who looked like a Sunday league striker at Celtic Park on Saturday, is the top goalscorer in the league and has had an impressive season in front of goal – often turning the dull Hearts display into three points. Whilst the award was going back to Edinburgh with Shankland, there is no escaping the fact that Matt O’Riley is the best player in Scotland this year.
The former MK Dons talent has kicked on this season under the management of Brendan Rodgers and added goals to his game. In 45 appearances this year, O’Riley has scored 15 goals and assisted on 17 occasions – as well as earning MOTM accolades in the Champions League. His displays have attracted interest from the Denmark National Team and he has become a full internationalist.
O’Riley has proven himself to be a valuable asset at Celtic, helping the team through a difficult period with his impressive displays, which alerted Atletico Madrid. Brendan will be resigned to maybe losing him this summer but until then, O’Riley will be looking to help Celtic towards a league title and a Scottish Cup later this month.
