Lawrence Shankland can punish Celtic weakness AGAIN and here's why he gets my Player of the Year vote - Chris Sutton

Lawrence Shankland would win my vote for PFA Scotland Player of the Year.

And, if Celtic don’t start defending cross balls properly, the Hearts striker might get to enjoy a double celebration this weekend. Shankland has already tortured my old club this season and you wouldn’t bet large sums of money on him not doing it again if Celtic don’t tighten it up at the back.

First thing first, let’s talk about the Tynecastle hitman. He’s had another magnificent season and he’s kept his head through all manner of chat over his future to continue scoring goals. Shankland’s club return of 28 so far this term is outstanding and the difference for his club throughout the campaign. That is, basically, where I came down on him. I have no issue at all with the other three candidates, all excellent. If this decision was being made at the turn of the year, I’d have gone for Matt O’Riley. He was absolutely brilliant in all aspects of his work. His workrate and creativity were up to a usual high standard and, crucially, he added goals into the mix from midfield.

In the absence of Reo Hatate, O’Riley really stood and took on a major burden through that gruelling first half of the campaign. No wonder Atletico Madrid are looking at him. He’s got all the tools and is going to the top.

But it was interesting to hear him say at the nominations unveiling that the initial interest from the Spaniards in January was tough at first on the mind. None of us know just how much it affected his form. Only he knows that. But he hasn’t been as vibrant since the resumption from the mid-winter break.

Don’t get me wrong, he’d still be one of the first names on the team sheet today if I were Brendan Rodgers and him returning to his peak for the last five games