Dundee's Simon Murray says player of the year nomination ‘quite special'
Hard work and belief has paid off for Simon Murray as the Dundee forward welcomed his 'special' nomination for the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year award.
The 33-year-old is up against Celtic trio Daizen Maeda, Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn after notching 22 goals in all competitions since joining from Ross County last summer.
The former Dundee United and Hibernian forward has been a consistent goalscorer in recent years after returning from a spell abroad to play for Queen's Park, initially in League Two.
'When I came back from South Africa, I had my bad knee injury and the aim was to try and climb up to playing in the Premiership again, which I knew I was capable of,' he said.
'But over the last few years it went pretty well and I'm just happy with how my performances have been, pretty consistent and adding more goals to my game.
'I just keep working hard on the training pitch and just keep doing what I do, keep believing in myself and, as you get older you learn maybe the runs to make, when to make them and maybe it's just a bit of experience and a bit of game knowledge that's starting to fully click now.
'Obviously, the team of the year was put out a couple of weeks ago so I feel like I've had a good season, but to maybe get this award has made it quite special.'
McGregor led Celtic to a fourth consecutive title and has scored nine goals this season from a defensive midfield position.
The Hoops captain said: 'I think the players understand more than anybody how difficult it is and what you need to sacrifice and give to your profession, so it's always nice when the guys that you're playing against think you've done a good job.'
McGregor praised Maeda and Kuhn for their 'unbelievable seasons'.
Forward Maeda has hit 33 goals despite playing on the wing for most of the season, while winger Kuhn took his tally for the season to 20 goals in all competitions when he scored a double in Saturday's title-clinching win at Dundee United. He also has eight league assists.
McGregor said: 'To have two guys like that, supplemented by the other guys that have come in as well and done a good job, then it makes our job as midfielders so much easier that we know when we serve them the ball, they're going to make the difference in the game.'
On Maeda, he added: 'I don't think I've played with anyone who has that level of physicality that presses and sprints.
'Even the numbers that come out of the Champions League, he was almost double everyone else in the intensity of runs.
'He's scored so many goals, he's calm in front of goal, he presses, he sets the tone for the team. He's almost like playing with two players sometimes, he's that good.'
Celtic midfielder Arne Engels, Rangers striker Hamza Igamane, Hearts forward James Wilson and Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller are the four contenders for the Young Player of the Year award.
The SWPL1 Player of the Year award nominees are Hibernian's Eilidh Adams, Celtic's Emma Lawton, Rangers' Katie Wilkinson and Glasgow City's Samantha Van Diemen.
The winners will be announced on Sunday.
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