Neil Lennon admits he is a little bit puzzled as to why Rangers skipper James Tavernier has been nominated for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award.
And his reasoning is based around Aberdeen star and top scorer for the season Bojan Miovski, who has been a shining light amid a dark campaign for the Dons.
The Pittodrie side will have to settle for a place in the bottom six of the Scottish Premiership having sacked Barry Robson while also seeing his successor Neil Warnock leave the club too.
But Miovski has fired in 24 goals for the club this season [Transfermarkt] and Aberdeen could have been in a much more precarious position without him.
However, he was not nominated by his peers for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award for 2024.
Instead, Rangers pair Tavernier and Jack Butland as well as Celtic maestro Matt O’Riley and Hearts goal machine Lawrence Shankland are vying for the coveted prize.
And that has left Neil Lennon, speaking on PLZ Soccer, rather perplexed. He feels James Tavernier should not be in contention for the gong, despite the Rangers captain scoring an incredible 24 goals from right-back this season.
Tavernier ahead of Bojan Miovski ‘strange’
Asked initially if Miovski would be in his nomination line-up before discussing Tavernier’s ‘strange’ inclusion, Lennon replied: “Yeah he would be for me, yeah.
“I think he’s been outstanding and sort of carried the fight for Aberdeen all season really. Big goals in big games and even though it’s been a pretty disappointing season for Aberdeen, he’s been a standout player.
“My own personal preference would be for him to be in the top four (nominations) for sure.
“Probably Lawrence (Shankland to win the award). I think (Matt) O’Riley’s had an incredible season and I think Butland’s done really well.
“Tavernier has been okay. O’Riley, for me, has been Celtic’s standout player, Lawrence (for Hearts), Butland’s been great.
“It’s just the one for me, James over Miovski is a bit strange, I don’t think he’s been…I think he’s had better seasons, put it that way.”
Miovski vs Tavernier tough one to call
Both Bojan Miovski and James Tavernier have performed tremendously this season for Aberdeen and Rangers respectively – there’s no doubting that.
Of course, Rangers fans will point to Lennon’s Celtic allegiances in regards to his comments above and that may well be true.
But to say Tavernier’s had an “okay” season given the number of goal contributions the Englishman has racked up for Rangers is strange in itself.
That doesn’t mean to say Miovski does not deserve to be a nominee, as Lennon alludes to. The Celtic-linked striker can certainly feel hard done by.
But as mentioned, this award is voted for by the players and not by a committee. With that, it’s clear that Tavernier has been more highly regarded this season than Miovski.