Jon Daly has to be on Player of Year list, says John Rankin

The Dundee United captain became the first Tannadice player to score 20 goals in a season since Kjell Olofsson in 1998 by netting twice against Dunfermline last weekend, and his goals have proved crucial in propelling Peter Houston’s side up the table and into the race for the Champions League.

Rankin, who first met Daly when the pair were on trial at Arsenal as youngsters, believes the Irishman has been one of the standout players in the SPL this season and, as a result, is deserving of wider recognition.

Celtic players Charlie Mulgrew, Scott Brown and Victor Wanyama will feature on any end-of-season lists but the feeling at Tannadice is that Daly deserves his place in their company. Rankin said: “Throughout the season, no-one has really been paying much attention to what Jon has being doing but now he has 20 goals, everyone is sitting up and taking notice.

“It is a great achievement, especially in a team that was supposedly struggling at the start of the season and it speaks volumes for him. When you look at us now, we are fourth and we made the top six fairly comfortably. Jon has been a huge part of that and he has led by example all season. He definitely should be up there when the Player of the Year awards are handed out.”

Rankin admits he did not realise how good Daly was until he signed for United in the summer.

He added: “Jon is as good a striker as I have played with. A lot of players try things that they aren’t really good at but Jon knows exactly how to get the best out of himself.