FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM THE SPFL THIS WEEKEND

VAN VEEN IS DUTCH OF CLASS FOR STEELMEN

HE may be a journeyman Dutch striker, but Kevin van Veen has all the makings of a cult hero at Motherwell. Simply outstanding in his team’s 2-0 victory over Aberdeen on Saturday, he scored one and set up the other. Motherwell currently sit inside the top four and, if they can keep Van Veen fit and firing, they might well have a crack at Europe.

TIME FOR SWISS STAR AJETI TO TRULY SHINE

ALBIAN AJETI claimed he had ‘nothing to prove’ after his brace in Celtic’s 3-0 win over Ross County. ‘If I play and get starts in games, then I will score,’ he said. But the striker has struggled to make an impact in Glasgow and, with Kyogo Furuhashi injured and Giorgos Giakoumakis not yet up to speed, he needs to walk the walk — starting with Real Betis on Thursday.

GLASS MUST FIND DONS’ JAGGED EDGE

WITHOUT a win in six games and exits in the League Cup and Europe, it’s been a shaky start for Stephen Glass (below) at Aberdeen. Scott Brown, David Bates, Declan Gallagher and Christian Ramirez have been added, but the lack of cutting edge was obvious in their 2-0 loss at Fir Park.

LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR GERRARD

RANGERS have looked sluggish at times this season and are starting games slowly, as witnessed at McDiarmid Park on Saturday when St Johnstone went 1-0 ahead early in the second half through Michael O’Halloran. James Tavernier eventually stepped up to the plate with his superb winner into the top corner, but these stuttering starts are an issue Steven Gerrard must quickly address.

YOUNG DYLAN IS REAL DEAL FOR BUDDIES

THE youngest-ever player in the Scottish top flight, Dylan Reid’s rise to prominence shows no signs of stalling. The 16-year-old St Mirren midfield man captained Scotland Under-17s in the international break, was the best player in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Dundee United and may follow the path taken by John McGinn and Kenny McLean at Paisley.