The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Celtic players dominate PFA awards shortlists
Five Parkhead men in running for players’ prizes
Aberdeen winger Jonny Hayes has prevented Celtic scoring a clean sweep in the PFA Scotland player of the year shortlist.
Hayes is among four candidates along with Scott Sinclair, Moussa Dembele and Stuart Armstrong.
Dembele is also among three Celtic players on the young player shortlist along with Kieran Tierney, Patrick Roberts and Hibernian striker Jason Cummings.
Sinclair was voted Celtic’s top player this season by both his team-mates and Hoops fans after hitting 25 goals so far for Brendan Rodgers’ side in his debut campaign.
Armstrong did not secure a regular starting place until late October but the former Dundee United player is on 14 goals and set up a late winner against Slovenia on his Scotland debut in March.
Armstrong believes Rodgers is building something “quite special” at Celtic Park. The midfielderer said: “It’s been a terrific season and we have dominated the league and we are in a cup final.
“Domestically we have been the best but there have been a lot of good individual performers and it’s good they get recognition as well.
“There is a feeling that the manager is building something quite special.
“You have seen the impact he has had in his first season and as we continue to improve in each game then he’s building something quite exciting.”
Republic of Ireland winger Hayes has scored eight goals for Aberdeen and helped them to two cup finals and a ninepoint lead over Rangers in second place in the Ladbrokes Premiership. He has edged out the likes of Celtic skipper Scott Brown in the voting among his fellow professionals.
Dembele has scored 32 goals after displacing last year’s PFA Scotland player of the year, Leigh Griffiths, as Celtic’s first-choice striker.
The French striker missed Saturday’s 5-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox with a hamstring injury but remains hopeful of being back for the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen on May 27.
He said: “I am just trying to be fit every day and working in the gym and we will see what happens.
“It would mean a lot as it’s the last game of the season and a final and a chance to win the treble, so it will be nice to be part of it.
“There is a chance for me but we don’t really set targets.”
Left-back Tierney missed three months of the season through injury but is still in line to claim the young player prize for a second consecutive campaign, while on-loan Manchester City winger Roberts makes the top four after hitting seven goals.
Cummings, who has scored 23 goals to help Hibs to promotion, was last week named on the PFA’s Championship player of the year shortlist.
The winners will be announced on Sunday night.