TWO of Athletic's title-winning stars have been shortlisted for a prestigious PFA Scotland accolade.

Captain Kyle Benedictus, and midfielder Matty Todd, are two of four nominees put forward to win the organisation's League One Player of the Year prize.

They, together with Airdrieonians forward, Calum Gallagher, and Queen of the South attacker, Ruari Paton, have received votes from their peers to make the shortlist.

Players from across the SPFL are asked to cast their votes for the individual they believe to have stood out in their division across the season, with the winners announced at PFA Scotland's annual awards dinner on May 14.

Benedictus, who joined last summer after leaving Raith Rovers, has been a bedrock of Dunfermline's surge to the League One title.

The centre back, who was given the captain's armband by manager, James McPake, had played every minute of every league match until he was red-carded in a 1-1 draw at Airdrieonians, which saw him miss Saturday's final home game of the season with Clyde, after which he picked up the trophy.

As well as helping Athletic keep 23 clean sheets across all competitions, 20 of which were in the league, Benedictus has chipped in with seven goals, and took home several accolades from the Centenary Club Lifeline event that was held on Saturday evening.

Todd, who in March signed a contract extension that keeps him at KDM Group East End Park until 2026, has been a revelation for his boyhood club this season.

The former Dunfermline High School pupil, who also picked up several accolades at the Player of the Year event, has scored 11 goals from midfield throughout the campaign, helping the Pars secure a return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

To win the award, Benedictus and Todd face competition from Gallagher, whose 22 goals across the season have helped his team into the Championship play-offs, and Paton, who has netted 23 for the Doonhamers.

If either Benedictus or Todd were to win, they would become the first Pars player to pick up the accolade since Faissal El Bakhtaoui received the League One prize in 2016, after Dunfermline's last title success.

Divisional teams of the year will also be announced by PFA Scotland at the awards, in which ex-Dunfermline winger, Dom Thomas, is up for the Championship Player of the Year award after his season with current club, Queen's Park.