PFA Scotland Premiership Team of the Year announced for 2025/26 season

The official PFA Scotland Premiership Team of the Year for the 2025/26 campaign has now been unveiled, showcasing the standout performers as voted for by their fellow professionals across the league. The annual selection is widely regarded as one of the most respected honors in Scottish football, given that it reflects the opinions of the players themselves—those who compete against each other week in, week out.

Following a remarkable season that even saw them briefly emerge as unlikely title contenders, Motherwell dominate the selections with five players included in the final XI. Their impressive form throughout the campaign clearly left a strong impression on their peers, underlining just how influential their squad has been.

Close behind are current league leaders Heart of Midlothian, who have four representatives in the team. Their consistency at the top end of the table has been rewarded with significant recognition, reflecting a season in which they have established themselves as one of the most formidable sides in the division.

That dominance from Motherwell and Hearts means there was only limited room left for players from other clubs. As a result, just one player each from Celtic and Rangers have made the cut, highlighting how competitive—and perhaps surprising—the selections have been this year.

Goalkeeper and defensive line selections

Between the posts, Motherwell’s Calum Ward has been chosen as the league’s top goalkeeper for the season. His performances have been crucial to his side’s success, providing reliability and consistency at the back.

The defensive unit is made up of a four-man backline featuring a mix of talent from different clubs. Ward is joined by his Motherwell teammate Paul McGinn, whose contributions have been vital in defense.

From Hearts, both Craig Halkett and Harry Milne earn places, reflecting the strength and organization of their backline throughout the season. Completing the defensive quartet is Emmanuel Fernandez of Rangers, who stands as the club’s sole representative in the team.

Midfield trio highlights balance and creativity

In midfield, the team features a blend of creativity, control, and work rate. Benjamin Nygren of Celtic is the only player from his club to be included, recognized for his influence and attacking contributions from the middle of the park.

He is joined by two Motherwell players: Elliot Watt and Elijah Just. Both have played key roles in their team’s impressive campaign, offering energy, creativity, and consistency that helped drive Motherwell’s push near the top of the table.

Strong attacking trio leads the line

Leading the attack is a formidable front three that reflects the firepower shown by both Hearts and Motherwell this season.

Tawanda Maswanhise represents Motherwell in the forward line, capping off their strong presence in the team. Alongside him are two players from Hearts: Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga, both of whom have been instrumental in their club’s success with consistent goal-scoring performances.

Full PFA Scotland Premiership Team of the Year (2025/26)

• Goalkeeper: Calum Ward (Motherwell)
• Defenders: Paul McGinn (Motherwell), Craig Halkett (Heart of Midlothian), Emmanuel Fernandez (Rangers), Harry Milne (Heart of Midlothian)
• Midfielders: Benjamin Nygren (Celtic), Elliot Watt (Motherwell), Elijah Just (Motherwell)
• Forwards: Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian), Claudio Braga (Heart of Midlothian)

Recognition from fellow professionals

This year’s selections underline the impact that both Motherwell and Hearts have had on the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership season. With nine of the eleven spots shared between the two clubs, it highlights how their performances have resonated strongly with fellow players across the league.

At the same time, the inclusion of just one player each from Celtic and Rangers adds an intriguing dimension to the lineup, suggesting that the traditional powerhouses have faced stiff competition from emerging and in-form sides this season.

Ultimately, the PFA Scotland Team of the Year serves as a reflection of excellence as judged by those who understand the game best—the players themselves.

Exiled from the Scotland squad, a player reaches out to Steve Clarke to find out why he was snubbed, and gets a brutally truthful answer

A Scotland international who has found himself out of favour has revealed he took matters into his own hands by calling manager Steve Clarke to ask directly why he continues to be overlooked for selection—and received a blunt, honest response in return.

The striker, Oli McBurnie, opened up about the conversation during a recent interview, admitting that his exclusion from recent squads has been difficult to accept, particularly with a major tournament looming on the horizon. With the World Cup now less than two months away, the 29-year-old says he remains eager to force his way back into the national setup.

Despite his desire to return, McBurnie has once again been left out of Clarke’s latest squad, which suffered back-to-back defeats in international friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast. Those omissions have only increased doubts about whether he will be involved in Scotland’s upcoming World Cup plans.

Determined to get clarity, McBurnie explained that he personally reached out to Clarke around the time the most recent squad was being finalised. Rather than speculate about his absence, he wanted to hear directly from the manager about where he stood in the pecking order.

According to McBurnie, Clarke did not shy away from giving a straightforward explanation. The Scotland boss told him that his squad selections are largely based on loyalty and consistency, particularly when it comes to players who have delivered strong performances over time. In that context, Clarke made it clear that both Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes are currently ahead of him in the striker hierarchy.

Oli McBurnie of Hull City (Image: Getty Images)

McBurnie revealed that Clarke views Adams and Dykes as his preferred options, and does not consider him as a backup choice behind them. Instead of competing for a third or fourth striker role, he is being directly compared to those two established forwards—and, at present, the manager believes they offer more to the team.

While the response may have been difficult to hear, McBurnie accepted the honesty and acknowledged the challenge it presents. He reiterated his commitment to doing everything possible to earn another opportunity, insisting that his current form at club level gives him confidence.

The Hull City forward believes he is performing as well as he has in a long time and feels he has made a strong case for inclusion through his displays. However, he also recognises that the only way to change Clarke’s mind is to continue producing consistent performances and hope that an opportunity eventually arises.

McBurnie stressed that representing Scotland remains a major ambition for him, and he is determined not to give up on that goal despite the current setbacks. With limited time before the World Cup, however, he faces an uphill battle to break back into the squad.

His situation has also drawn attention at club level, where Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic has publicly expressed his surprise at the striker’s continued omission from international duty. Speaking last month, Jakirovic admitted he struggles to understand why McBurnie has not been selected, particularly given his goal-scoring record.

The Hull boss pointed out that McBurnie has been outperforming several other forwards in the same division, including players who have received international recognition. From his perspective, the statistics clearly support the striker’s case for inclusion.

However, Jakirovic was also quick to acknowledge that national team selection involves more than just numbers. While he can assess performances and goal tallies, he admitted he is not privy to the manager’s broader tactical considerations or long-term planning.

Even so, he maintained that McBurnie has demonstrated his quality on the pitch and believes the striker has done everything within his control to merit a call-up. Jakirovic added that injuries may have hindered his player’s momentum earlier in the season, suggesting that a fully fit campaign could have strengthened his case even further.

For now, McBurnie remains on the fringes of the Scotland squad, reportedly included on a reserve list but not among the primary selections. While that offers a small glimmer of hope, it also underlines how far he currently is from Clarke’s preferred options.

As the countdown to the World Cup continues, the striker’s focus will remain on maintaining his form and proving his worth at club level. Whether that will be enough to change Clarke’s stance remains uncertain, but McBurnie has made it clear he is willing to fight for another chance to represent his country.