The Scottish top-flight season may still be in its infancy, and although it is impossible to draw too many conclusions from the first six or seven matches, there have already been plenty of talking points. With Rangers and Aberdeen considerably underperforming, it has provided an opportunity for other sides to shine. We’ve picked out the players who have made blistering starts to the current campaign and have managed to catch the eye throughout August and September.
Ivan Dolcek - Dundee United
As of September 30th, Dundee United sit sixth in the Scottish Premiership table. A surprise loss to previously winless Kilmarnock was a setback for The Tangerines; however, they’ve made a promising start to the campaign with Ivan Dolcek leading the line effectively.
The Croatian left-winger, who is on loan from Slovakian outfit Dunajska Streda, has already netted five times in Scotland and claimed an assist. He tops the goalscoring charts and also leads the way when it comes to fast breaks. He’s been responsible for almost half of the club’s goals so far this season, yet he also tends to drift in and out of games, which has frustrated his manager.
Nevertheless, it’s an impressive haul for a player who scored just four goals in his previous loan spell and who has spent a considerable amount of time deployed as a left-back. He’s had at least two shots on target in four of his five appearances so far and ranks fifth in the Scottish Premiership for goals and shot creations.
Alexandros Kyzidiris
It’s been a wonderful start to the season for Hearts, who have thrived under the management of Derek McInnes and the investment of Tony Bloom. The Jambos sit top of the table, and are second in the early-season outright betting odds, having started the season behind Rangers and Aberdeen in the market.
McInnes's sides are often extremely effective, and many believe they could be legitimate title challengers this time around. Although the odds vary between bookmakers, they are generally available at around 8.00 with many of the sites featured on the Free Bets page on Calgary2026.ca, putting them just ahead of Rangers in the outright betting.
Numerous players have contributed to their positive start, including the prolific Lawrence Shankland and summer signing Claudio Braga; however, Alexandros Kyzidiris has stood out so far. The Greek striker has made many of his appearances from the bench, yet he’s still managed to bag two goals and claim three assists for the club. He’s averaging 1.3 shots per game, despite playing just 269 minutes, just half the amount that Shankland and Stuart Findlay have chalked up.
The 25-year-old has also gone viral following his superbly taken strike against Falkirk at the end of September. He was praised by his manager following his sensational goal, with McInnes praising his confidence and self-belief. Although he’s not managed to displace the starting strikers, Hearts fans can rest assured that they have an able deputy waiting in the wings.
Shamal George - St. Mirren
Having focused on attacking players so far, it’s only fair to put the spotlight on the goalkeepers. Kasper Schmeichel predictably dominated the save percentage stats; however, St. Mirren stopper Shamal George isn’t far behind. His side has been defensively superb so far, conceding an average of just 0.67 goals per game and remaining unbeaten in five of their first six outings.
George has a save percentage of 84.6%, over 5% higher than Dundee’s Jon McCracken, who has received plenty of plaudits so far, and Falkirk’s Scott Bain, who has successfully frustrated many opposition strikers.
The Wycombe loanee has benefited from being shielded by a sound defensive unit; however, he’s also pulled off some outstanding saves, including a remarkable save to prevent Thelo Asgaard from netting an equaliser for Rangers. He was also St. Mirren’s hero during the penalty shootout victory over Kilmarnock in the Premier Sports Cup, keeping out Kyle Magennis’ spotkick.
The 27-year-old has been so impressive that the club are looking into signing him permanently. He has shown remarkable composure and fantastic leadership and has thrived under Stephen Robinson.
The former Liverpool academy graduate has had a fairly nomadic career so far; however, he has seemingly found his home in Paisley and has caught the eye so far.