Hartson Picks Up Player of the Year in Scotland

Celtic striker John Hartson and Rangers midfielder Fernando Ricksen have been voted joint winners of the Scottish PFA's player of the year award.

Hartson has scored 28 goals to lead Celtic to the brink of the Bank of Scotland Premier League title while Rangers' utility player Ricksen has successfully switched from defence to midfield this season to impress throughout and help secure the CIS Insurance Cup.

Amazingly, it is only the first time in the 28-year history of the Scottish Players' Union that the award has been shared.

Speaking to a large sports TV network Hartson said: "The award means a lot because it's voted by your fellow professionals - and to share it with a player of Fernando's quality means an awful lot to me.

"To score the goals I've got is pleasing because we lost our talisman Henrik Larsson - who was phenomenal to us - for this season.

"But I've had luck and managed to stay injury-free - and the manager has stuck by me and given me a great run in the side."

Hartson admitted the arrival of Craig Bellamy - his Wales international strike partner - from Newcastle has helped his cause in 2005.

"Craig gives any team something different - he causes anyone problems with his pace and he is intelligent and makes clever runs. It's been a good move for him and us - he's really come on as a player."

As a result of Hartson's many goals this season Celtic currently sit top of the SPL, five point clear with four games of the campaign remaining.