Airdrie boss Ian Murray says PFA Scotland League One Player of the Year Dylan Easton has “rebuilt himself” to become the player he is today.
Murray had the midfielder on loan at Dumbarton from St Johnstone in 2015 and says his talent was there for all to see, but his attitude maybe wasn’t as nailed on.
But the 28-year-old play-maker arrived at Airdrie last summer via spells at Elgin, Clyde, Forfar and Kelty Hearts, and has been outstanding this season, which also saw him pick up the supporters’ player of the year gong.
But the PFA Scotland prize is one that doesn’t come often to Airdrie players, and Murray is delighted for his star.
He said: “It’s a brilliant achievement for Dylan. I think any award that’s voted for by your fellow peers or professionals is great.
“It’s great for Dylan, it’s great for his team-mates, it’s great for the club and I don’t know the last time an Airdrie player managed to pick up such an accolade.
“It’s testament to the whole team and Dylan for how well he’s done this season and I’m really happy for him.
“I had Dylan down at Dumbarton many years ago on loan from St Johnstone.
“He was 17 or 18, he had talent and we knew that, but he didn’t have experience and was maybe just a wee bit off it in terms of attitude at the time – as young guys are sometimes – but he has gone away and rebuilt himself.
“He has been an absolute pleasure to work with, he really has. His attitude, his popularity around the place and his excitement to play football every single day – sometimes it’s hard getting him off the pitch after training!
“He has such an appetite and he has been brilliant for us. His ability on the ball is excellent, his work-rate without the ball is excellent, and he has been a massive player for us.
“He fully deserves the award, as well.”
Murray was pleased that Easton won the Player of the Year award at Airdrie, but says his team-mates played a big part in that.
He said: “Dylan got player of the year and I think it’s because people enjoy watching him play.
“When he gets the ball he tries to create something, tries to score goals or create chances, but I think he would be the first to recognise that it’s other guys round about him that have been great.
“Adam Frizzell and Dylan together, for example, would they be as good without each other? Probably not.
“We’ve got Reece McCabe and Callum Fordyce at the back talking him through games, Aggy [Scott Agnew] giving them the simple five or 10-yard balls to let them go and do their stuff.
“I think they have both complemented each other really well, especially for two guys who have never played together before.”
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