Malik Tillman 'lucky' to be Rangers rep in team of the season as Jota exclusion leaves Celtic hero scratching his head

Malik Tillman is lucky to be in the PFA Scotland team of the season - and Jota deserved his spot instead.

That's the view of Celtic hero John Hartson who reckons performances in Old Firm games have been the clear difference between the two. Tillman and his Rangers captain James Tavernier were the only Rangers representatives in a team dominated by their rivals. Champions Celtic, who stand one game away from a Treble, had seven players in the eleven decided by votes from their fellow players.

Top scorer Kyogo, midfield duo Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor and defensive rock Cameron Carter-Vickers were among the shoo-ins but one Celtic star who didn't make the cut was Jota. It was Aberdeen's Duk and Rangers' Tillman who joined Kyogo in the front line despite Jota notching 21 goal involvements in 29 league games this season.

And Hartson, speaking on Go Radio, doesn't understand why Tillman was voted in ahead of him. He said: "Malik Tillman is a young player who shows promise. In terms of the big matches where I think Rangers really needed him to stand up, I still think there's improvement to come.

"But he is a talent. Team of the season, on the back of his performances? Maybe there were some better options in my opinion. Malik Tillman I think is a great talent but I think he's probably a little bit lucky to find himself in the team of the season.

"You could argue, has he had a better season than Jota? And you wonder why is he in? I think Jota's had a better season than Tillman personally. I don't think he's really made the difference in games and in the games against Celtic.

"So listen, it's good for the lad. He's definitely a talent and one that Michael Beale will have a big decision on in terms of whether he wants to sign