I had ball against Raith but now it’s time for real Deel
Wighton hopes win’s done trick to secure start in Jambos’ opener
CRAIG WIGHTON is relieved to have finally broken his Hearts duck and is now ready to shoot down former club Dundee.
The forward bagged a hat-trick in Tuesday’s 3-1 Betfred Cup win over Raith at Tynecastle and has thrust himself to the front of the queue for tomorrow night’s Championship curtain- raiser.
Wighton’s first of two penalties was his first competitive goal since signing for Hearts two years ago and the 23-year-old admitted it has been weighing on him.
But now he hopes the floodgates have opened – after previously being written off.
Wighton said: “It has been on my mind, that goal. Obviously I’ve had a few chances to score since I’ve been here and I hadn’t done that so hopefully now I can score a few more.
“I didn’t have many chances after the (second) penalty so I was getting a bit frustrated.
“They came at us a lot better in the second period and made a game of it so it was getting late. Then I got an opportunity to have a run and thankfully I got the third as well.
“Of course I want to prove people wrong. I want to show the fans what I can do because I’ve not really done that yet.
“But, like I say, it’s just a start. It’s good to get my first goals but the real stuff starts on Friday.
“The main target this year is the league so hopefully I can score plenty of goals there.”
Tomorrow’s season opener sees what many believe will be the top two come the end of the 27-game season go head to head in Gorgie.
A Dundee native and boyhood fan, Wighton is still well in tune with what the moods is like in the city.
He said: “A lot of my mates are Dundee fans.
“Everyone thinks Hearts are the favourites – and so we should be.
“But I’ve played plenty of games in that league and if we don’t work hard, if we don’t go out there and play to the best of our ability, then teams will take points off us. We need to be at it in every single game.”
Hearts are unanimous tips for the title and asked if there is pressure in
I want to prove people wrong. I want to show the fans what I can do. It’s just a start CRAIG WIGHTON
facing tomorrow night’s opponents, Wighton said: “There will be.
“There are a lot of good teams in the league. I went to Arbroath last year and the standard there is really high as well. It’s up to us to get off to a good start.
“There are only 27 games so there’s no time not to get off to a good start. We are all looking forward to getting going.
“There is Dunfermline, Arbroath, there are a lot of teams in the league that will push us all the way.
“It’s up to us to hit the ground running and to put in dominant performances.
“Anybody that comes here knows they are in for a game.
“When we go away to these teams, everyone will want to beat Hearts so we need to be ready for that.”
Usually, a hat-trick for a striker would ensure that their spot in the next game’s starting line- up is guaranteed. But with Liam Boyce due back from international duty and in the squad for tomorrow night, Robbie Neilson has a decision to make.
If he does plump for Boyce, Wighton insists he won’t be too down as he expects there will be plenty of opportunities to come, despite having fewer league games to play.
He added: “It’ll be up to the manager. It’s a short season with a lot of games coming up so I think boys will rotate a lot this year.
“It’s up to you when you’re in, to do enough to stay in the team.
“Hopefully I’ve done that but if not, I will be ready to come into the team when I’m needed.”