Dean Shiels reaps rewards after making financial sacrifice

Shiels joined Dundee United striker Jon Daly, Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew and his Northern Ireland team-mate Steven Davis among the nominees, with the winner to be announced on 6 May.

The 27-year-old has scored 11 goals for Kilmarnock this season and won a League Cup winners’ medal and an international recall in the process.

Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels revealed his son had made a huge financial sacrifice to sign for the club in January after it looked like his loan deal from Doncaster would not be extended, but the decision has paid off in other ways.

Shiels jr said: “I have really enjoyed my football this year and when you’re enjoying it, it’s easier to do well. Everyone is different and you have got to support your family and money has got to come into it.

“But I have never been swayed by money in any decision in my career so far. I could have left Scotland for extra money in January and in the summer but I didn’t start playing football to earn money. When I was a kid I just wanted to play and enjoy it and because I have done that this year, and managed to get a medal and this nomination, it has made it all worthwhile.

“In January, because I had been on loan at Kilmarnock, money was never going to come into the issue of where I wanted to play. I always wanted to see out the job. The fact we were in the semi-final of the League Cup was an added bonus. Sometimes you have got to make decisions on football reasons and forget about the rest.”

The former Arsenal and Hibernian player has another decision to make in the summer when his short-term deal expires. “I would like to stay in Scotland,” he said. “Things become out of your hand in the summer when you’re out of contract.

“I can’t rule out moving back to England or going further afield but at the moment I’m really enjoying it here so that’s going to play a big part in my decision-making.

“With the relationship I’ve built up with the Kilmarnock players and fans, that would be my first choice. My wife is from Edinburgh and I have to take everything into consideration but I’m very, very happy at Kilmarnock.”

Shiels revealed he had voted for one of his rivals for the award, Rangers midfielder Davis, who won the prize in 2010.

“I’m maybe a wee bit biased, he is my room-mate at Northern Ireland,” he said. “He’s been great, he has led that team through an awful lot. He’s only a new captain, I don’t think he expected to have to deal with what he has dealt with. But Steve is a great person and he has shown that through this time.”