Kenny Miller snubs two Rangers stars as he names pick for Player of the Year

Kenny Miller has named his choice for Player of the Year – and he comes from outside of Glasgow.

The former Scotland striker played for both Celtic and Rangers during a well-travelled career but has not plumped for any their players as the outstanding star this campaign. He has more of an association with the Ibrox men after playing for them across three spells and admits they have two very strong candidates for the award.

Jack Butland has been a terrific signing between the sticks and Miller would place his impact along with Kyogo’s over the two previous seasons, if Rangers can win a Double or a Treble. And James Tavernier continues to produce to a startling degree from right-back and would be the other name put forward from the Light Blues.

Speaking in the Sunday Mail, Miller said: “Rangers have two outstanding candidates for Player of the Year, in my opinion. Jack Butland in goal has been nothing short of phenomenal. And he’s joined by James Tavernier who continues to defy logic with his numbers. Butland’s been a sensational signing for the club. Not just for his performances on the pitch but also for his leadership skills and personality off it.

“I genuinely believe that if Butland wins a Double or Treble at Rangers in his first year, he’ll have had a similar impact to Kyogo Furuhashi at rivals Celtic. Now I know Butland can’t score the goals Kyogo can. But I honestly feel his influence and presence since he arrived at Ibrox – as well as the saves he has made – puts him on a par with Kyogo two years ago.

“So Butland has to be on my shortlist and he’s joined by my old team-mate Tav. From right-back, the captain has already scored 21 goals this term. Incredibly, it’s not outside the realms of possibility that he could hit a tally of 30 before the season’s out. So he MUST be in contention when the top awards are being handed out in May. His consistency levels, yet again, have been fantastic for Rangers especially since Philippe Clement came in. So those two will take a bit of beating.”

From Celtic, Matt O’Riley would be a candidate for Miller. He insists he was the best player in the league earlier in the campaign but a dip in form has let him down when it comes to the running for POTY.

The pundit added: “On the other side of the city, Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley has to get a mention and he also makes my shortlist. For the first three months he was the best player in the league with his goals, assists and performances. He was a stand-out in the Premiership early on.

“Whether it was talk of a potential move to Atletico Madrid not happening in January, I don’t know, but O’Riley’s form dipped. I actually believe that he’s now rediscovering it because he has looked back at it in recent weeks. But for maintaining a high standard from the start of the season until now Butland and Tavernier are ahead of him. Those two will take a bit of beating. ”

The leaves Hearts star Lawrence Shankland to take home the gong, if it’s up to Miller.

Explaining his decision, he went on: “But you know what? As we sit here now, I think Lawrence Shankland tops the lot of them.

“I believe the Hearts striker will be crowned Scotland’s Player of the Year – and it’s hard to find an argument against it. I questioned if Shankland could succeed in the top flight a couple of years ago. Not because he wasn’t a very good player but because in his one previous Premiership season with Dundee United he only got eight goals.

“So there were question marks. But he shut me right up last year by scoring 24 for Hearts in the league. And to really hammer home his point he’s going to surpass it because he’s at 21 already in the league and 28 in total for club and country. To do that for a non-Old Firm team? You can’t underestimate the achievement. Because, with all due respect, he’s probably not getting the quality of service that Rangers and Celtic strikers do. And yet he’s out-shooting everyone at those clubs – by a distance.”