THE shortlist for this season's Scottish Football Writers' Association (SFWA) Young Player of the Year as been announced as five up-and-coming players in the Premiership have been recognised for their respective campaigns.

Former Rangers defender Nathan Patterson, now on the books at Everton, is among the players nominated for the annual award, as is Celtic centre-half Stephen Welsh.

Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay, who is reportedly gaining plenty of admirers south of the border, has also been included on the five-man shortlist, as has last year's winner, Hibernian left-back Josh Doig.

The final promising youngster up for the award is Dundee United centre-half Ross Graham, whose emergence into the starting XI has been a highlight of the Tannadice club's campaign.

The winner will be formally announced at a ceremony at the Hilton hotel in Glasgow city centre in May.