Dundee United manager Peter Houston has expressed his delight at three of his players being honoured by their peers.
Tannadice captain Jon Daly has been nominated in the main PFA Professional Footballers’ Association Scotland player of the year category alongside Rangers captain Steven Davis, Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew and Dean Shiels of Kilmarnock.
In the union’s Young Player of the Year section, the Tannadice club are represented by both Gary Mackay-Steven and Johnny Russell, with Hoops winger James Forrest and Kenny McLean of St Mirren the other two nominees.
That means there is greater representation from United than any other club and that is the source of great satisfaction for Houston. He says it is particularly significant that it is their fellow pros who have voted for them.
”It is a huge achievement for the lads to get nominated,” said Houston. ”Whether they win it or not it is a great thing to be recognised by the guys whom you have been playing against all season.
”It is brilliant for the lads involved and also for Dundee United because to have three players up for awards is some feat, especially in a season of transition like this one.”
He added: ”I spoke to the lads about it and told them they should be proud that players at other clubs are speaking about them in their dressing-rooms. I’m thrilled for the three of them.”
All three will have to wait a while before attending the awards night in the Hilton in Glasgow on May 6 but they have plenty to occupy them before then.
The first of United’s post-split matches takes place at McDiarmid Park on Saturday and they are going toe-to-toe with St Johnstone in the race for European slots.
The last time the Tangerines were in Perth they left with a whopping 5-1 win so this weekend will face a home side intent on gaining revenge.
However, Houston says the previous match won’t be on United minds when they run out for the lunchtime kick-off.
”We won 5-1 down there last time but I think I said afterwards that it was a freak result,” said the Tannadice boss. ”The scoreline from the last game won’t affect us it’s not something we have talked about.
”What we have focused on is improving on the Aberdeen game last time out. The lads are determined to get that out of their system and I can tell that from the way they have been flying in training.”
Houston is calling on what is sure to be a big and noisy travelling support to get right behind their team.
”St Johnstone is one of the hardest places to visit so we would love the fans to get behind us because it is an important game,” he added.
”Our fans have been great and they have a big part to play. It is going to be a very tough game.”