Scotsman football writers pick their player of the season

With it looking increasingly likely that no more games will be played in this campaign, our football writers deliver their verdict

Odsonne Edouard has enjoyed an outstanding season with Celtic. Picture: Craig Foy / SNS

Stephen Halliday: CALLUM McGREGOR (Celtic)

Of all the business Celtic did in last summer’s transfer window, resisting Leicester City’s bid to lure Callum McGregor to the English Premier League was perhaps the most significant. The 26-year-old midfielder, pictured inset, has maintained his remarkable levels of consistency and durability at the heart of the Scottish champions’ midfield, the fulcrum of the fluency and efficiency which had them on course for a quadruple treble before the grim intervention of Covid-19. While his team-mate Odsonne Edouard rightly attracts the plaudits for his prowess at the point of Celtic’s attack, McGregor’s sustained and utterly reliable contributions make him their most valuable component.

Andrew Smith: ODSONNE EDOUARD (Celtic)

Which player is the greatest asset in the Scottish game, and will move on for the highest transfer fee? There is no debate that it is the 22-year-old Frenchman. Now, say such a player has been in blistering form, and between club and country, has bagged 39 goals in this abridged season – 11 of these coming in only six France under-21 appearances. All debate then is, surely, ended as to the identity of the best Scottish-based footballer of the past nine months. A sublime performer, with a deftness and nimbleness that makes him a joy to watch, his wonder is not only his scoring but the fact that he has had crucial input into an overwhelming number of the 137 goals scored by the Scottish champions across the season.

Moira Gordon: ODSONNE EDOUARD (Celtic)

Even in a team that was on the cusp of their ninth consecutive title prior to the coronavirus shutdown, certain players shine brighter than others. In Odsonne Edouard the Parkhead club have a special kind of star. A guy who can rattle in the goals on an impressively-regular basis he is still a selfless team-mate, with a laudable number of assists. In Europe or domestically, the 22-year-old is clever and composed. Strong, physically and mentally. even if he misses he simply waits for the next opening and when others get the goals, his fingerprints are usually still all over them. A consistent performer all season, his contributions can be jaw-droppingly good. A class act and a joy to watch.

Alan Pattullo: ODSONNE EDOUARD (Celtic)

If this had been player of the first half of the season, the decision might have been a little harder. It would still have involved Edouard, obviously. His 17 goals to the end of December demanded that. But then Alfredo Morelos’ return of 28 goals in all competitions, including a European record of 14 goals before Christmas, also placed him firmly in the running. There is no dilemma now, however, as we consider the player-of-the-almost-season award. Edouard has kept up his scoring form to ensure Celtic made the most of Rangers’ post-break collapse. Indeed, the Frenchman might even have got better. Morelos, on the other hand, has only scored once. No contest.

Craig Fowler: ODSONNE EDOUARD (Celtic)

Before the frustratingly repetitive question of “should Celtic be awarded the title?” dominated the Scottish football news feed on a daily basis, we had the tedious “who is better? Alfredo Morelos or Odsonne Edouard?” debate. It was the go-to subject for any editor looking to fill a space in the paper and any journalist desperate for a story. In fairness, it was a closely run thing earlier in the campaign. Both players were tearing it up in Scottish football and on the continent. Since the turn of the year, though, there has been no doubt that Edouard has emerged as the No 1. He has continued his excellence, scoring 11 goals this year to Morelos’ one. He also has a much superior temperament.

Aidan Smith: CHRISTIAN DOIDGE (Hibernian)

Hibs had a goalie once who’d played basketball – Ole Gottskalksson. “Like a drunk trying to catch a balloon,” despaired his manager. In what were horrible early days it appeared something had been lost in translation in the acquisition of Christian Doidge, another with a hoops background who looked to be in the wrong place, even the wrong sport. There were three open-goal misses against St Mirren, four more at Aberdeen. But then a mis-hit went in. Then another, and another. A cult hero now, this has been a slug-to-butterfly transformation in the spirit of the Leith motto – Persevere.

Barry Anderson: ODSONNE EDOUARD (Celtic)

Quite simply, he has been the best player in the country by some distance. His goal ratio is excellent with 28 strikes in 45 appearances for Celtic in all competitions. Sam Cosgrove of Aberdeen has a very similar conversion rate – 23 goals in 37 in all competitions for him. Alfredo Morelos at Rangers boasts 29 goals in 46 outings, but he has faded notably since New Year. I’m a huge fan of Cosgrove and Morelos, however Edouard edges it because of his all-round quality, technical ability, movement and temperament. He will be a difficult man for Celtic to keep beyond the summer.

Patrick McPartlin: MARVIN BARTLEY (Livingston)

Were Livingston able to replicate their home form on the road, they would be a formidable prospect and arguably higher up the table. They lost only two home games, kept nine clean sheets and were only denied back-to-back wins over Celtic by an injury-time goal. Marvin Bartley has become a key member of a tricky Livi side. He may not have the goals of Lyndon Dykes or the creativity of Steven Lawless but his displays have highlighted the folly of Hibs letting him leave last summer. Their loss has been Livi’s gain. Honourable mentions for Ryan Jack, Odsonne Edouard and Jon Obika who have consistently impressed too.

Mark Atkinson: STEVEN LAWLESS (Livingston)

There are more obvious contenders within the Old Firm, but Livingston’s talisman is my selection. The Lions were widely tipped to suffer second-season syndrome following their exploits of last term and the departures of Craig Halkett and Liam Kelly, but they presently sit fifth in the Premiership and are surpassing all expectations yet again. Lawless, 28, has always been a technician in midfield, but this year he has upped his level significantly. He adds the class to a physical, workmanlike team and is the perfect foil behind Lyndon Dykes in attack. He has played in 97 per cent of Livi’s games this season, scored eight times and weighed in with six assists. Odsonne Edouard and Ryan Jack have also flourished, but Lawless gets my nod for powering Livingston’s seriously impressive campaign.

Joel Sked: ALI McCANN (St Johnstone)

If you want my best player of the year, then it’s Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard. The Frenchman is on a different level. But for my personal player of the year there are a number of candidates, including Hamilton’s Alex Gogic and Livingston’s Lyndon Dykes. But it is St Johnstone ace Ali McCann who deserves the honour. The 20-year-old was handed the keys to the Saints midfield at the start of the season, Tommy Wright recognising he was best suited to sitting at the base of the play. As the season progressed he was moved into a more natural attacking role. He responded with four goals in a seven-game run in the league. He offers the team dynamism, intelligence on the ball, combativeness and a really positive attitude.