The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) have released their Team of the Week following the first round of fixtures.

Celtic, who began their Scottish Premiership title defence by thrashing Kilmarnock 4-0 on Sunday, are represented just once in XI, while no Rangers player were able to shine enough against Heart of Midlothian to be included. 

Reo Hatate scored Celtic's first goal during the rout at Parkhead and the Hoops midfielder was not only named in the Team of the Week for match day one but he's also their star man. 

Speaking about Hatate and his important contribution to the reigning league champions at the weekend, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said: "I think that what I’ve seen over the course of pre-season, he’s top class. I didn’t see the player that I hoped to see at the beginning of last season, for whatever reason.

"I was aware of him and I’d seen him play and I liked what I’d seen. But he never really got going through pre-season last year. And not to what I was wanting. He got injured and then it was really broken for him.

“He had little spells where he came into the team, but not consistently. But he’s come back pre-season now and, obviously, how the season ended, there’s that confidence.

"He knows I like him as a player and he knows what I want from him as a player. I’d hoped I could see that last season, but it doesn’t matter. He’s here now and he’s been absolutely brilliant since his comeback. So I’m really pleased for him.”


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Looking at the Team of the Week in full, Ross Laidlaw (Ross County) is in goals, with a back four of Gerald Taylor (Heart of Midlothian), Rhys McCabe (Airdrieonians), Jack Murray (Elgin City) and Richard Taylor (St Mirren).

In midfield, Hatate (Celtic) partners Sivert Heltne Nilsen (Aberdeen) and Ben Dempsey (Ayr United).

Whilst up front, the SPFL delegate chose Malik Zaid (Annan Athletic), Ross MacIver (Falkirk) and Kristijan Trapanovski (Dundee United).

Several of those selected have recently joined their respective club's during the summer transfer window.

(Image: SPFL)