CLINICAL BOYD SHOULD BE UP FOR AWARDS, SAYS RODGERS

BRENDAN RODGERS has endorsed the candidacy of Kris Boyd for Scotland’s Player of the Year crown.

Although his captain Scott Brown and in-form winger James Forrest are both likely to be in the mix for the Scottish Football Writers’ Association and PFA Scotland awards, the Celtic manager believes Boyd’s feat in hitting the 20-goal mark for Kilmarnock at the age of 34 is worthy of recognition.

‘I think you have to look at Kris Boyd,’ said Rodgers. ‘The turnaround for Kris this season has been impressive, firstly in terms of his availability — when you become an older professional that can be more difficult.

‘There is no doubt that through his career he has been brilliant from 25 yards in. He is clinical with his heading and finishing ability, he just smells the goal and he has done that all his career.’

Boyd’s renaissance has coincided with the arrival of Rodgers’ former Chelsea colleague Steve Clarke at Rugby Park. Rodgers is not surprised at Clarke’s positive impact on the player but he has been struck at just how well Boyd has adapted to the physical demands of playing as a striker in a team that specialises in counter-attacking football.

‘Stevie has given Kris confidence and put the trust in him, and he has responded to that,’ continued Rodgers. ‘He is starting from a deep position as well. He is not pressing high up the pitch where the chances are but somehow he is getting there and his finishes have been really good.’

Rodgers also sees merit in the claims of the Hibs duo of Dylan McGeouch and John McGinn, the midfielders who have made Neil Lennon’s team tick this season.

‘Both those players have been very good,’ he added. ‘It was probably hard for McGeouch to get game time at Celtic as a young player but he has gone to Hibs and in the games I have seen he has been very good technically. He has good energy and looks like he can run all day.

‘There is no doubt John McGinn has improved and that is a great credit to Lenny and his coaching staff. I saw clips of him when I first came up because I wasn’t aware of him at St Mirren and I’ve watched him grow and develop. He has definitely got better.’