- Rangers-linked Elijah Just earns PFA nomination amid standout season for Motherwell.
- No Celtic or Rangers players shortlisted for first time since 2013.
- Just’s creativity highlights Rangers midfield gap ahead of potential summer move
Rumoured Rangers transfer target Elijah Just has been nominated for the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year award this season.
He is included alongside Motherwell teammate Tawanda Maswanhise and Hearts duo Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland.
It is the first time no player from either Celtic or Rangers have been included on the shortlist since 2013.
Hearts top the table, three ahead of Celtic and four ahead of the Gers ahead of the run-in.
Motherwell moving upwards
Motherwell sit fourth but have been talked up as the best pure footballing side in the Premiership this season.
Just spoke about how well the Steelmen have performed this campaign after the announcement of the shortlist.
“This season has, for sure, exceeded my expectations,” he said.
“As a team, we’ve gone above and beyond maybe what people thought in the beginning of the year.
“I think is a testament to how well we’ve performed as a team. And we’ve still got a few games to go and we’re looking to finish strong.”
Elijah Just helps Steelmen put Rangers to the sword
The North Lanarkshire side returned to winning ways at Ibrox on Sunday, stunning Danny Rohl’s side with a winner in the final minute of regulation time to win 3-2 in Govan.
That result leaves Rangers four off the summit with four fixtures remaining.
This has turned next Monday’s trip to Tynecastle against Derek McInnes’s Jambos into a must-win.
Just spoke of his delight in getting one over his potential future employers.
“The win yesterday was extremely important,” Just explained.
“We had a little bit of a dip in form. We had some tough games that have maybe taken us out of the [title] race.
“I’m not saying we were ever fully in it, but there’s still a lot to play for.
“We know Hibs are behind us and they’re chasing, and every game from now on is tough.
“We want to finish strong and create some more memories for the fans.”
Elijah to emigrate to Govan?
Just has been tipped for a summer move to the Gers, seen as the missing creative piece to Rohl’s midfield.
Howeverm he has als, been linked with a move to Rangers’ Old Firm rivals Celtic, along with current Well boss Jens Berthel Askou.
The New Zealand international has scored seven and assisted eight in his 30 Premiership appearances this campaign.
That is an average of a goal contribution once every two games.
Read Rangers analysis
At Ibrox currently only Youssef Chermiti averages better with 12 goals and four assists in 26 games, at an average of a contribution just over every game and a half.
This puts into perspective the lack of creative dynamism from the current midfield at Rangers.
James Tavernier remains Rangers top creator from right back, but with the captain set to depart, the Gers really need a spark in the middle moving forward.
In a season defined by disruption at the top, Just’s emergence captures both Motherwell’s rise and Rangers’ creative shortcomings, making his growing influence and potential summer move all the more significant.
