Football Apr 30, 2026

PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year award: Claudio Braga, Elijah Just, Lawrence Shankland and Tawanda Maswanhise shortlisted

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year award: Claudio Braga, Elijah Just, Lawrence Shankland and Tawanda Maswanhise shortlisted

For the first time since 2013, there are no Celtic or Rangers players nominated for PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year.

Hearts duo Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland are up against Motherwell's Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise for award, which is voted for by players across the top flight.

The Jambos are currently three points clear of Celtic at the top of the Premiership, with Rangers a further point behind after losing to the Steelmen on Sunday.

Braga has impressed since joining title-leading Hearts in the summer and is currently the club's top scorer.

The Portuguese striker netted 14 times and provided five assists, featuring in all 34 of the Jambo's league games so far this season.

Captain Shankland, who won the award in 2024, has thrived despite missing a spell through injury. He has scored 13 goals in 25 league appearances.

New Zealand winger Just has been a revelation since joining Motherwell, registering seven goals and eight assists in his 31 Premiership matches to help fire his side up to fourth in the table as it stands.

Striker Maswanhise, who joined the Fir Park club in 2024, is the league's top scorer so far this season with 17 goals in 31 games.

The 23-year-old has thrived under new Well manager Jens Berthel Askou after he netted just five times last season.

Barney Stewart made his breakthrough at Falkirk after spending the first five months of the season on loan at Dunfermline.

The 22-year-old, who was playing university football just two years ago, has scored eight Premiership goals for the Bairns after netting six for the Pars in the Championship.

Arbroath midfielder Findlay Marshall is the only nominee from outside the top-flight.

The 19-year-old has scored 11 goals and provided two assists to help the part-time Championship side secure a place in the promotion play-offs.

Defender Luke Graham has had a standout season with Dundee, consistently providing a strong presence at the back, starting 33 of their 34 top-flight matches.

On loan Rangers winger Mikey Moore is the youngest nominee at just 18.

After a slow start following his move from Spurs, he has become one of Danny Röhl's key players with six goals and two assists as they push Hearts and Celtic for the Premiership title.

Glasgow City duo Lee Gibson and Nicole Kozlova are nominated for PFA Scotland's SWPL Player of the Year award.

They are shortlisted with Georgia Timms of Hearts and Rangers forward Katie Wilkinson.

Rangers also have two on the Young Player shortlist.

Laura Berry and May Cruft have been nominated with Hibernian's Rosie Livingstone and Lisa Forrest of Glasgow City.

Hearts are currently top of the SWPL, two points ahead of Glasgow City with Rangers a further two behind in third place.

With the 2025/26 season nearing a dramatic conclusion, we're giving you the chance to vote for your Scottish Premiership goal of the season so far.

Aberdeen's Marko Lazetic, Celtic's Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, Hyun-Jun Yang and Sebastian Tounekti, Dundee's Ethan Hamilton, Zac Sapsford of Dundee United, Falkirk's Kyrell Wilson, Hearts' Alex Kyziridis, Ben Brannan of Kilmarnock, plus Rangers pair Jayden Meghoma and Youssef Chermiti are up for the award.

Click to see all 12 goals and vote for your favourite!

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