Andy Walker reviews start of 2016/17 Scottish Premiership season

By Andrew Richardson

We may only be three weeks into the Scottish Premiership season, but there have already been 50 goals scored in the 17 opening fixtures.

Ross County's Liam Boyce has made a blistering start with five goals in his three opening games, while twelve other players have scored two goals so far.

It all points to an exciting Scottish Premiership season, according to Sky Sports pundit and co-commentator Andy Walker.

"I have really enjoyed the early weeks of the Scottish premiership season. It's good to see Rangers back and competing at the top end of the table. I think the level of competition is good when you have Celtic, Rangers Aberdeen and Hearts all up there.

Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis talks about Aberdeen's chances of winning the Scottish Premiership before this weekend's match against champions Celtic

"I think most of the Scottish Premiership teams want to play attacking football. It's the easiest thing set-up, park the bus and be defensive. But we've seen a good number of away victories and we've seen a good amount of quality from middle to front.

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"The quality of player has been raised in the Scottish Premiership and that has to be welcomed.

"Rangers, despite that blip on the opening day have gone to the top of the league. I think they are showing that they're capable of matching Hearts, Aberdeen and Celtic at this stage.

Image: Andy Walker says the quality of player in the Scottish Premiership has improved this season

"The Celtic versus Rangers match in a couple of weeks will give us a great marker as to how both of these teams might perform in the year ahead.

"It's perhaps a bit surprising that it took Aberdeen until the third week to get their first win after a couple of draws. But they will be strong as they have a good squad.

"I thought Hearts were really unlucky against Celtic after putting up a good performance. They scored five last weekend against Inverness CT and are a team that can score a lot of goals. They have signed well and hopefully they can keep a hold of Callum Paterson before the window closes. He is someone I think can play regularly for Scotland.

Image: Walker believes Hearts' Callum Paterson has what it takes to become a regular Scotland right-back

"I've enjoyed the level of competition from some of the more modest clubs. Ross County's Liam Boyce has shown that he has a lot to offer the Scottish Premiership, scoring a lot of goals.

"I've also enjoyed the way Motherwell have played in the opening weeks of the season. Partick Thistle with very modest resources have got off to a good start. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it develops in the coming weeks and months."

Andy Walker's pick of the players

Harry Forrester (Rangers)

Image: Rangers' Harry Forrester celebrates his goal against Dundee

"In the early part of the season I've been very impressed with Harry Forrester at Rangers. There's a guy that was left out of the team for the opening weekend. He came on as a substitute, making an immediate impact setting up Martyn Waghorn with a wonderful pass for his goal against Hamilton.

"And since then, when he's been getting a start he's shown a real goal threat. He got an important goal up at Dens Park against Dundee and followed it up with another really important goal at Ibrox last week against Motherwell. He's someone who has been given a lift joining such a big club. He's shown he has a lot to offer."

Scott Sinclair (Celtic)

Image: Celtic's Scott Sinclair (left) celebrates scoring to make it 2-0 against St Johnstone

"And on the other side of the city I think Scott Sinclair, even allowing for the fact he cost Celtic close to £4 million, has shown he's hit the ground running. Getting a goal against Hearts immediately endeared himself to the Celtic support and followed it up with a goal against Motherwell in the League Cup. He's shown a turn of pace that a lot of defenders are going to find it hard to live with."

Pick of the goals so far

Chris Erskine (Partick Thistle 2-0 Inverness CT 06/08/2016)
Lionel Ainsworth (Kilmarnock 1-2 Motherwell 06/08/16)
Souleymane Coulibaly (Hamilton Accies 1-2 Kilmarnock 13/08/16)
Darren Lyon (Dundee 1-1 Hamilton Accies 19/08/16)
Niall McGinn (Aberdeen 2-1 Partick Thistle 20/08/16)
Chris Erskine (Aberdeen 2-1 Partick Thistle 20/08/16)
Don Cowie 1st goal (Hearts 5-1 Inverness CT 20/08/16)
James Forrest (St Johnstone 2-4 Celtic 20/08/16)

You can view these goals from the videos below:

A round-up of all of Saturday's action from the Scottish Premiership on 06/08/16
Scottish Premiership Saturday Roundup from 13/08/16
Action from Dens Park as Dundee and Hamilton drew 1-1 in the Scottish Premiership 19/08/16
Watch all the goals from the Scottish Premiership on 20/08/16
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