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Celtic dominate PFA Scotland awards with Moussa Dembele shortlisted for two

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments177

Celtic's Moussa Dembele and Stuart Armstrong celebrate
Moussa Dembele and Stuart Armstrong have been vital to Celtic's title win

Celtic striker Moussa Dembele has been shortlisted for player and young player of the year in the PFA Scotland awards.

The 20-year-old Frenchman is joined in the senior list by team-mates Stuart Armstrong and Scott Sinclair, plus Aberdeen wide man Jonny Hayes.

His opponents for the young player award are team-mates Patrick Roberts and Kieran Tierney, the holder, along with Hibernian striker Jason Cummings.

The winners will be announced on Sunday 7 May at the PFA's annual dinner.

Celtic players have won the last three top-flight player of the year awards and have only failed to win it twice in the past 13 seasons.

Motherwell striker Michael Higdon topped the list in 2013, Rangers midfielder Steven Davis took the award in 2010, while Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen shared it with Celtic's John Hartson in 2005.

Celtic's Patrick Roberts and Kieran Tierney
Patrick Roberts and Kieran Tierney, who won last year, are both up for the young player award

Players make the shortlist after voting among players in the Scottish Professional Football League.

Striker Leigh Griffiths was their top choice last season, with midfielder Stefan Johansen the year before and Kris Commons in 2014.

If Hayes were to win, he would become the first Dons player to take the award since Scotland midfielder Jim Bett in 1990.

The shortlists for the Championship, League One and League Two player of the year awards were announced last week.

Cummings, whose goals have helped Hibs win promotion, was shortlisted for Championship player of the year as well as the overall young player award.

Left-back Tierney could become the first to win the young player award twice since Aberdeen midfielder Eoin Jess in 1993 - and the first to win it two years running since Hearts defender Craig Levein in 1986.

Premiership Player of the Year

Aberdeen's Jonny Hayes

Stuart Armstrong, 25, midfielder (Celtic): the former Dundee United midfielder has blossomed in his second full season at Celtic Park and has contributed 14 goals in his 44 appearances, earning himself his first Scotland cap.

Moussa Dembele, 20, striker (Celtic): the France Under-21 international has proved a bargain signing for around £500,000 from Fulham last summer and scored 32 goals in 49 appearances before his season was cut short this month because of a hamstring injury.

Jonny Hayes, 29, winger (Aberdeen): in his fifth season at Pittodrie, the versatile wide man has played at full-back and on the wing, scoring eight times in 40 appearances and re-established himself in the Republic of Ireland squad in helping the Dons into second place in the Premiership and make two cup finals.

Scott Sinclair, 28, winger (Celtic): his career having stalled at Aston Villa, the former Swansea City and Manchester City winger has been a revelation under Brendan Rodgers and scored 25 goals in 45 games for the league and League Cup winners.

SPFL Young Player of the Year

Hibs striker Jason Cummings
Jason Cummings' goals helped Hibs win the Championship title and promotion

Jason Cummings, 21, striker (Hibernian): the product of Hibs' youth system and Scotland Under-21 international has found the net 23 times in 38 appearances as the Edinburgh side won the Championship title and promotion, as well as reaching the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

Moussa Dembele, 20, striker (Celtic): the Frenchman won his early-season joust with Leigh Griffiths to become first-choice striker under Brendan Rodgers and it led to speculation about a multi-million pound January move to Chelsea.

Patrick Roberts, 20, winger (Celtic): continuing his 18-month loan from Manchester City, the England Under-20 international has had to share a place in the starting line-up with Scotland winger James Forrest but has looked a constant threat, scoring seven goals in 42 games.

Kieran Tierney, 19, left-back (Celtic): despite having an injury disrupted season, the flying wide man has had another fine season that has led to reports of interest from top English clubs and should lead to a fourth Scotland cap against England in June.

Clockwise from top left: Moussa Dembele, Stuart Armstrong, Scott Sinclair and Jonny Hayes

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177 comments

  • Comment posted by ur mom, at 15:32 2 May 2017

    deez nuts is a poor mans markthelegendkid

  • Comment posted by User0576512429, at 17:01 2 May 2017

    @47 yep that's absolutely right. No English team's fans have ever contributed to any ungentlemanly conduct. No abusing the locals, pushing people off trains while subjecting them to racist abuse, no fighting each other over whether the manager should stay or go, no rioting resulting in multiple deaths, no singing songs about air disasters, player deaths, players' wives...ran out of space.

  • Comment posted by Govie, at 16:43 2 May 2017

    As an Aberdeen season ticket holder, it's always good to see one of our players being recognised, but the thing is, I wouldn't even vote for Hayes for Aberdeen's player of the year.

    Nobody can argue with the signings of Dembele and Sinclair, along with Rodgers, they've taken Celtic to another level domestically.

    Still going to Hampden in hope on the 27th :-)

  • Comment posted by User0160598655, at 15:31 2 May 2017

    no doubt dembele will pick up both awards but i think that would be undeserved. he has been amazing and no doubt deserves young player award but player of the year has to go to sinclair - banging in goals from midfield including some screamers, playing up front when needed and has been the driving force behind this celtic team! both have been brilliant so one award each would be nice!

  • Comment posted by breeko, at 16:11 2 May 2017

    20. So you think having rich owners makes you a big club. Nothing could be further from the truth. You just become a rich persons plaything.

  • Comment posted by VBI, at 17:20 2 May 2017

    I came on here expecting to see sad English trolls waffling on about Scottish football. I wasn't disappointed.

  • Comment posted by morbhoy, at 17:00 2 May 2017

    @47 You either know nothing about Celtic, Scottish football or are simply trolling.

  • Comment posted by D1710810867791, at 19:17 2 May 2017

    I love a bit of banter and the Scottish give just as much as they take, but it should be accepted that Celtic are genuinely a massive club with a massive global fans base.

    What I saw of Moussa Dembele is that he looks decent, not sure how he would get on in the Prem unless he plays.

    Thought Brendan has done a fine job this season and gave Man City a real run for their money in CL, respect...

  • Comment posted by Miguel Sanchez, at 18:21 2 May 2017

    Fulham fan - shame we lost him and his older namesake, but all Dem good things Moussa come to an end

  • Comment posted by User0389026502, at 17:59 2 May 2017

    Celtic are a fantastic club with a great history, as are ajax, Porto, anderlecht, etc.
    These famous clubs with great histories, have been cheated by e u f a, via the so called champions league farce trophy.

    Should Celtic go through their season unbeaten, the idea that they have to pre qualify for the champions league

    Is a disgrace!!!
    Good luck to them, and if their players win everything .

  • Comment posted by TrueBlue72, at 17:11 2 May 2017

    Celtic have spent well, and its not their fault that the competition is currently below average. If Rangers and Celtic had the Sky money that gets thrown at the cannon fodder in the English Leagues they would both quickly become top ten teams. I accept that its not a great product, but you are comparing apples with oranges. I have a feeling Celtic might surprise a few in next Champions League.

  • Comment posted by jimmcinfrance, at 16:56 2 May 2017

    To 47... you should realize by now that you are being ignored...
    just crawl back under your stone.

  • Comment posted by samerulesapply, at 19:57 2 May 2017

    To all the doomsday moaners ripping our football apart remember guys like wanyama, forster, ki , Davis, van dikj, van bronckhorst, arteta to name a few went to the great epl and flourished. The great joey Barton, championship player of 2016 came up and got sent home coz he couldn't cut it. Class is permanent wherever you play.....

  • Comment posted by User0888795663, at 16:25 2 May 2017

    Hope Dembele stays at Celtic , young lag , good talent , great goal scorer , and learning at a big club , ask Zidane or Dechamps they'll tell you the same thing.

    Soon be 10.

  • Comment posted by delbhoy82, at 22:57 2 May 2017

    All the trolls out in force as usual on a Celtic post, you just can't help yourselves!

    A report in November said Celtic pays its first-team players an average wage of £717,860 per year.

    If it's really a Sunday league as you say, surely some of you should leave your mum's basement and go sign up!

  • Comment posted by D1679401573653, at 16:03 2 May 2017

    So the 'Player not good enough for a mid-table English Championship club' goes to ....

  • Comment posted by kenny_burns_kneecap, at 16:33 2 May 2017

    i thought joey barton might have been on the list, until i remembered he spent most his time in glasgow down the bookies or in scott brown's pocket during old firm games

  • Comment posted by breeko, at 16:23 2 May 2017

    29. Sinclair did so well at Swansea that the champions Man City bought him. For this reason he proved he had the talent. It's up to a club to use him properly. Rodgers can do this.

    28. Brown's football brain is his main asset. His ability to create space in tight situations is obvious, even in champions league games, and he was up with the best in passing accuracy. Just say you don't like him.

  • Comment posted by Jack M, at 15:26 2 May 2017

    Dembele & Tierney.

    Dembele is a top top player.
    Would sell for £50 million in the EPL.

    Great to watch in the SPFL.

  • Comment posted by TrueBlue72, at 17:24 2 May 2017

    2.8 Million for winning the Scottish Premier whereas Leicester got 93 Million and add on another 31 million for the Champions League run (which they didn't have to qualify for).....not quite a level playing field.

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