Northern Ireland international nominated for PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award

Rangers' Ross McCausland tries to win the ball from St Mirren's Caolan Boyd-Munce

Keith Bailie

Northern Ireland international Ross McCausland has been nominated for PFA Scotland Premiership Young Player of the Year.

The 20-year-old Rangers winger has made 34 appearances this season scoring twice in remarkable breakthrough season, that also saw the former Linfield player make his international debut. He will face stiff competition from fellow nominees Kilmarnock's David Watson, Lennon Miller of Motherwell and Dundee's Lyall Cameron.

The nomination is further good news for McCausland, who was named Rangers’ Young Player of the Year at the Glasgow club’s end of season awards on Sunday night.

McCausland’s teammates Jack Butland and James Tavernier have been named on the shortlist for Player of the Year Award, with Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland and Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley also on the four-man list.

Tavernier has netted 24 times for Rangers while England international goalkeeper Butland underlined his credentials with several excellent saves in his side's 2-1 win over St Mirren on Sunday.

Shankland has scored 28 goals for Hearts this season as well as one with Scotland while O'Riley has produced 13 goals and 11 assists in the league.

Rangers also have two players in the running for the SWPL1 award - Kirsty MacLean and Rachel Rowe. Celtic forward Amy Gallacher and Hibernian's Jorian Baucom are also on the shortlist.

MacLean is also on the shortlist for the SWPL1 Young Player award along with Gers team-mate Mia McAulay. Aberdeen's Bayley Hutchison and Partick Thistle goalkeeper Ava Easdon are also among the contenders.