Johnston SFWA award hailed as an ‘amazing accolade and thoroughly deserved’

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell was delighted to see Max Johnston named as the Scottish Football Writers’ Young Scottish Player of the Year.

The wing-back has impressed since returning from a loan spell with Cove Rangers in January.

The 19-year-old saw off competition from St Johnstone left-back Adam Montgomery, Dundee midfielder Lyall Cameron and Albion Rovers winger Charlie Reilly.

Kettlewell said: “An amazing accolade and thoroughly deserving of it in my opinion.

“I saw a stat recently about the number of young players in Scotland under the age of 21 that get the opportunity to play. I pay testament to the young lad, Dylan Smith, out there for Ross County, he comes on, 16 years old. Lennon Miller for us came on the park at 16. James Furlong, 19, Max Johnston, 19.

“There’s not an awful lot of players playing an awful lot of football. It was something that was brought to my attention. I am a huge believer in it.

“We have to get a balance right with trying to produce our own and trying to filter through our own players so I am delighted that Max has got that award but I am also delighted that it shows that process of academy players earning the right to play, the achievements that can come off the back of it.”