Claudio Braga’s strong season earns player of the year award

Hearts striker Claudio Braga has been named PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year.

The Portuguese striker’s achievement capped a special night for Hearts at the awards dinner.

It was a Hearts double in the manager category with Derek McInnes and Eva Olid getting the acclaim of their counterparts with their teams both top of the league.

Braga has netted 14 goals to help Hearts lead the way at the top of the Premiership and 17 goals in all since arriving from Norwegian second-tier side Aalesund.

The 26-year-old emerged victorious from a shortlist which also included his Hearts team-mate Lawrence Shankland and Motherwell pair Tawanda Maswanhise and Elijah Just.

Glasgow City’s Nicole Kozlova collected the SWPL player of the year award.

The Canadian-born Ukraine international was a regular goalscorer before suffering a serious knee injury two months ago.

Rangers scooped a double in the young player category. On-loan Tottenham winger Mikey Moore won the SPFL award and the SWPL young player award went to 16-year-old May Cruft.

The divisional winners were St Johnstone winger Josh McPake, Hamilton striker Oli Shaw and East Kilbride forward John Robertson.