Maloney gets Hart's vote

Inverness Caledonian Thistle midfielder Richard Hart has voted Celtic match-winner Shaun Maloney his player of the year.

Scotland international Maloney enhanced his reputation as a free-kick specialist by adding to his CIS Insurance Cup final goal against Dunfermline with a crucial strike against Inverness at Parkhead.

Hart said Maloney is so ruthless from the edge of the area that he expected the 23-year-old to score when he stepped up.

It was the talented frontman’s 14th goal of the season but Hart believes he should end up with the player of the year award to join his Bank of Scotland Premier League and League Cup winner’s medals.

The midfielder said: “He got my vote because of the season he has had.

“He has worked hard to break into the team and come through a difficult injury. This season he has come onto his game and I was standing in the wall for his free-kick saying: ‘This is going straight in.’”