Celtic FC striker Chris Sutton is Scotland's Player of the Year following a vote by his fellow professionals.

New contract
The Englishman, 31, has been a versatile performer in Celtic's surge to the Premier League title, scoring 27 goals. Sutton, who recently agreed a new deal keeping him at Celtic Park until June 2007, beat club colleagues Henrik Larsson and Stilian Petrov, along with Rangers FC goalkeeper Stefan Klos.

Double target
"Obviously I'm very pleased to have won this award – especially as it was voted for by the players," he said. "That means a lot to me." Sutton, formerly of Norwich City FC, Blackburn Rovers FC and Chelsea FC, is hoping to crown his fantastic year by recovering from injury to play against Dunfermline Athletic FC in the Scottish Cup final on 22 May.

Pearson honoured
Meanwhile, Sutton's team-mate Stephen Pearson walked away with the Young Player of the Year award. The 21-year-old midfield player, who left Motherwell FC in January, has made the breakthrough for Scotland this season and figured strongly in Celtic's run to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals.