Scottish Premiership 2022/23: Kris Boyd & Andy Walker’s key participant picks from each membership

With the daybreak of a brand new Scottish Premiership season upon us, Sky Sports activities pundits Kris Boyd and Andy Walker choose their gamers to look at from all 12 golf equipment…

Aberdeen

Kris Boyd: Ross McCrorie

Aberdeen have clearly introduced in gamers who’re unknown portions. It could be unfair to pick a number of the new boys at this stage as we now have not seen sufficient of them but, however one participant everyone knows precisely what we’re going to get from is Ross McCrorie. His expertise in the course of the pitch and flexibility in quite a few positions is vital.

He is scored in three of Aberdeen’s 4 League Cup video games so is coming into the season on good kind. He is at an excellent age as effectively, so it may very well be a giant season for him in Aberdeen colors.

Andy Walker: Luis Lopes

The one I will be looking for in what guarantees to be a season of change for Aberdeen is Luis Lopes. He is a ahead from Benfica and it’s not typically Aberdeen pay out switch charges for gamers.

They want somebody to attain objectives. Lewis Ferguson as a midfielder was their prime scorer final season. Lopes is supposed to be fast, highly effective, and robust, in accordance with Jim Goodwin. I feel with that suggestion, you’ll be in search of him to seek out the again of the web often.

Celtic

Kris Boyd: Jota

You simply have to take a look at the actual fact Jota got here in on mortgage final season and did very well. Celtic scored 92 objectives en path to successful the title and his contribution, the best way he performs the sport, was essential.

Jota has received that little little bit of x-factor when it comes to what he can convey within the ultimate third. Celtic have spent some huge cash on him however, after 13 objectives and 14 assists throughout all competitions final season, it suggests he has received one other large season forward.

Andy Walker: David Turnbull

The participant to be careful for at Celtic Park is David Turnbull. He was injured for many of final season however I just like the look of this goalscoring midfielder. I anticipate him – harm allowing – to be an essential participant for Celtic and I additionally anticipate him to make extra appearances for Scotland.

I feel he is the kind of participant that may thrive beneath the administration of Ange Postecoglou as a result of he is very a lot a staff participant and he will get objectives from the center of the park and has nice potential for each membership and nation.

Dundee United

Kris Boyd: Steven Fletcher

The massive one for me is Steven Fletcher coming again to Scottish soccer. He isn’t getting any youthful however even on the age of 35 – with that have from having performed down in England – I anticipate him to attain objectives again on residence soil.

You simply get the sensation that Dundee United, simply as they did final season with Charlie Mulgrew, will be capable of get one of the best out of Fletcher within the latter levels of his profession. He is aware of find out how to rating objectives, he is aware of find out how to lead the road, and he may very well be pivotal to the place Dundee United end this season. It might show to be a shrewd little bit of enterprise.

Andy Walker: Tony Watt

Tony Watt was prime scorer at Motherwell earlier than he left within the January switch window and though he didn’t rating as closely as I believed he would have executed at Dundee United – I feel signing Fletcher can be a giant assist to him. He is received nice expertise, nice skill and a marvellous profession so far.

Dylan Levitt becoming a member of from Manchester United completely is one other good little bit of enterprise, he too will assist Tony rating objectives. I feel Tony can get so much higher this season and can shine within the new look Dundee United beneath Jack Ross.

Hearts

Kris Boyd: Lawrence Shankland

I can not look past the signing of Lawrence Shankland. He was in Belgium final 12 months, it didn’t fairly work out, but when his team-mates can create alternatives he’ll put them away. With the creativity Hearts have and the direct strategy beneath Robbie Neilson the ball ought to be in and across the space the place Shankland ought to be efficient.

Andy Walker: Alan Forrest

Alan Forrest was a really constant participant for Livingston over the course of a few seasons. The demand of him being as efficient at an even bigger membership that can have hopes of constructing an affect in Europe too is a contemporary problem for him.

He performed greater than 200 video games for Ayr United earlier than getting a transfer to Livingston and simply two seasons later he now has the chance to have an effect on video games with higher gamers round him at Tynecastle.

Hibernian

Kris Boyd: David Marshall

The frustration of final season, how dangerous it was and the way it value Shaun Maloney and Jack Ross their jobs, has been adopted by a large turnover of gamers. Lee Johnson is in cost now and I feel he is made a smart choice in signing David Marshall.

There have been instances final season in that space of the sphere the place Hibs lacked expertise and organisation, Marshall will help remedy that. Sure, he is 37 however I do not suppose it’ll have a lot of a bearing on his performances, you solely want to take a look at the likes of Allan McGregor and Craig Gordon to know we should always anticipate some large performances from Marshall.

Andy Walker: Elias Melkerson

Hibs have gotten a brand new supervisor in Lee Johnson and signed a whole lot of new gamers together with David Marshall and Aiden McGeady. Nonetheless, Elias Melkerson is the one I will be looking for. They signed him from Bodo Glimt, I do know he is solely 19 however I feel by his personal admission he was not adequate or constant sufficient final season.

I am anticipating a extra constant season from him this season, and I feel he can rating extra often. It is an excellent stage for him, I noticed him rating towards Norwich at Easter Street and don’t have any doubts he could have the ambition of ending prime scorer.

Kilmarnock

Kris Boyd: Jordan Jones

Jordan Jones has received a degree to show on his return to the membership. Since he left Kilmarnock his profession has just about stalled and he is not likely settled anyplace. Nonetheless, he is aware of the membership, the expectations and has the backing from Derek McInnes which ought to give him the boldness to carry out at his greatest.

Jordan’s skill to get the staff up the pitch together with his tempo, plus his creativity to make alternatives for his team-mates can be essential for Kilmarnock this season.

Andy Walker: Liam Donnelly

Below Derek McInnes there was a giant turnaround of gamers, and I feel he’ll wish to do a bit extra enterprise earlier than the window closes. Kilmarnock have gotten a goalscorer there in Kyle Lafferty however the one I’m looking for is Liam Donnelly.

I appreciated him when he was at Motherwell; he was an excellent footballer, stored the ball effectively, and I feel he can provide good service to the likes of Lafferty. He is usually a very influential participant within the Scottish Premiership, it is a league he is aware of very well, and he can flourish once more down in Ayrshire beneath McInnes at Kilmarnock.

Livingston

Kris Boyd: Esmael Goncalves

There are alternatives up entrance for Livingston this season however I am going for Esmael Goncalves, who has been at Hearts and St Mirren earlier than and has expertise within the Scottish Premiership.

For Livingston to achieve success they should enhance in scoring objectives and can’t rely as closely on Bruce Anderson. Shedding Alan Forrest is a blow however maintaining the core of all the opposite starters from final season and including to it with a couple of new faces like Goncalves can see David Martindale work his magic once more.

Andy Walker: Joel Nouble

I just like the look of Joel Nouble up entrance, he is received good creativeness and he is received objectives in him. Livingston want one thing contemporary upfront. They’ve had a little bit of a turnaround; Alan Forrest, who was a giant participant for them final season, has gone to Hearts, Craig Sibbald has joined Dundee United, however they’ve introduced in Phillip Cancar in defence and paid cash to signal goalkeeper Shamal George from Colchester.

I feel it’s up entrance the place they should be extra artistic, they perhaps didn’t rating as many final season as they’d have appreciated and I feel Nouble can provide them one thing a bit totally different.

Motherwell

Kris Boyd: Kevin van Veen

The Dutchman has proven he is usually a handful with 11 objectives throughout all competitions final season. He truly received extra yellow playing cards than objectives and that’s one thing he’ll wish to enhance however he places himself about and that’s essential for the best way Motherwell play.

Motherwell wish to get the ball ahead and ask questions of the opposition and in the event that they get the appropriate service to Van Veen he might higher final season’s objective return and make the distinction for Graham Alexander.

Andy Walker: Blair Spittal

The midfielder has been round a couple of golf equipment, having performed for Queen’s Park, Dundee United, Partick Thistle and Ross County and is understood for his spectacular skill from dead-ball conditions. Having been a part of a staff that completed within the prime six with Ross County he’ll convey that have to Motherwell.

Rangers

Kris Boyd: Tom Lawrence

Rangers have been criticised for not scoring sufficient objectives from midfield, nonetheless, the signing of Tom Lawrence might remedy that. He’ll profit from the motion of one other summer time signing, Antonio Colak, and as we noticed at Derby County, when he instances these runs into the field and finds that area, he can end.

Andy Walker: Antonio Colak

The one I will be looking for is the man who scored towards Spurs in pre-season, Antonio Colak. There can be a little bit of strain on him to be as constant a goalscorer as Alfredo Morelos, however Colak has the expertise, he is 28, and he’ll get a little bit of service from Rabbi Matondo and Tom Lawrence. He is proven he can rating objectives at his earlier golf equipment and I feel he’ll do the identical in Scotland.

Ross County

Kris Boyd: Jordy Hiwula

I feel Jordy Hiwula, who Ross County have simply introduced in from Doncaster, may very well be key for Malky Mackay’s facet. He has discovered the web thrice already within the League Cup marketing campaign. Ross County are going to want objectives from someplace after some notable summer time outgoings together with Regan Charles-Cook dinner, Joseph Hungbo and Blair Spittal.

Andy Walker: Yan Dhanda

I can be keeping track of the midfielder they’ve introduced in from Swansea, Yan Dhanda. He performed 50 video games within the Championship in his 4 seasons in Wales, he is 23, so so much is anticipated of him within the Highlands. Dhanda has a good pedigree and is somebody who could make a distinction for Ross County.

St Johnstone

Kris Boyd: Andy Considine

The previous Aberdeen stalwart will tackle the duty as an skilled participant to attempt to assist information St Johnstone away from the dreaded drop zone. That have will little question be required after key gamers like Zander Clark, Shaun Rooney, Jamie McCart and Callum Hendry all moved on – making the job for Callum Davidson so much harder.

Though Considine could have his work reduce out on the again, he has proven he is usually a risk from set performs too and I’m positive Davidson can be hoping the 35-year-old can keep harm free and be as constant as he was at Aberdeen for quite a few years.

Andy Walker: Murray Davidson

After shedding key gamers like Zander Clark, Shaun Rooney and Callum Hendry, St Johnstone want expertise and Murray Davidson continues to be there.

He’s a goalscoring risk from midfield and he’ll know it is a membership beneath strain after surviving by way of the play-offs final season. An enormous enchancment is required and Murray Davidson at his greatest will help present that.

St Mirren

Kris Boyd: Declan Gallagher

After the highs of reaching the Euros with Scotland, his membership profession has not kicked on as we anticipated. A transfer from Aberdeen to Paisley may very well be the catalyst for Declan Gallagher discovering his greatest kind once more as he hyperlinks up with former supervisor Stephen Robinson.

St Mirren don’t look as if they will rating a whole lot of objectives and can rely upon being defensively sound if they’re to show me improper and end additional up the desk.

Andy Walker: Dylan Reid

At 17 Dylan Reid has attracted a whole lot of curiosity from a number of golf equipment together with Celtic however has chosen to remain in Paisley and get common first-team soccer.

I applaud him for making such a courageous choice so early in his profession. He has not chased the cash and is aware of he’ll get higher by enjoying extra video games and I feel he could have one other very spectacular season for St Mirren.

Key dates for the 2022/23 season

The Scottish Premiership season will start on the weekend of July 30/31.

The marketing campaign will take a break in the course of the season to accommodate the primary winter World Cup, pausing on the weekend of November 12/13, earlier than resuming on the weekend of December 17/18.

The season will finish on the weekend of Could 27/28.

The Premier Sports activities Cup ultimate can be held on Sunday February 26 whereas the date for the Scottish Cup ultimate is but to be confirmed.

The Europa League ultimate can be performed on Could 31 in Budapest, the Europa Convention League ultimate can be on June 7 in Prague and the Champions League ultimate is scheduled for June 10 in Istanbul.