Comeback kid gutted season is almost over

DUNDEE: Striker reaping rewards of gym work as he fights his way into Mccann’s plans

With the end of the season in sight, most players will be looking forward to their summer holidays and the chance to put their feet up – but Craig Wighton isn’t one of them.

The Dundee front man admits he is “gutted” the campaign is coming to a close after battling his way back into boss Neil Mccann’s side.

The 20-year-old’s season looked to be over before it had started in July when he suffered a cruciate injury that required surgery.

However, he made a quicker-thanexpected recovery and the comeback kid has now started the last three games including Saturday’s victory over Hamilton.

Now, he hopes to win the nod again when Dundee play Ross County in Dingwall tonight and help set the seal on preserving their Premiership status.

When asked if being involved again was a bonus, Wighton said: “Yes, definitely as I had ruled the season out in my head. I was just looking to be as fit and as strong as I could for pre-season.

“But then I came back training a bit earlier, started playing for the 20s and I felt good. So when the manager said I was going to be involved the last four or five games, it was really good for me. To be starting as well is a big bonus.

“I am a bit gutted as the season is away to finish soon, just when I am finding my feet again and starting to play well.

“So it is a bit frustrating but at the same time I am looking to get a full pre-season under my belt and then really hit the ground running next year.”

After his operation, Wighton vowed to come back bigger, better and stronger and he is now reaping the rewards for all the hours he spent bulking up in the gym during his rehab.

He added: “When you get an injury like that and you believe you are out for the whole season you are not part of it so it is easy to go out or whatever.

“But I tried to stay as disciplined as I could and after my operation I was straight back into the gym.

“I just worked as hard as I could including on my upper body. That has definitely helped me. It was different when I was playing for the 20s as they are younger than me and you can’t judge it.

“But I definitely feel that before when a defender was coming tighter to me he could just nudge me off the ball whereas now, I can obviously still run at people but I can use my body as well. It has added something else to my game.

“I still want to get the ball and run at people. I have bulked my legs up as well but I feel just as quick if not quicker.”

Wighton had to come off just before the end of Saturday’s game with Hamilton but he will be raring to go again tonight against the Staggies.

The victory over Accies all but assured Dundee’s safety. However, like his manager, Wighton insists there is still work to be done in the Highlands.

He added: “I had a bit of cramp on Saturday. I haven’t played much and probably did a bit more running than usual. My calf cramped up and I tried to

“Iamabit gutted as the season isawayto finish soon, justwheni am finding my feet again and starting to play well. CRAIG WIGHTON

play on but it just went again. However, I am fine now.

“It was some result for us on Saturday. I thought we played really well and probably could have scored a couple of goals more. We said we wanted to win the last five games and we have won two out of three so there are two other matches that we want to win and finish the season on a high.

“Hamilton beat us 4-0 on the last day of the previous campaign and even when you come in for pre-season, it is still on people’s minds.

“You don’t want to finish the season like that. The job isn’t done at all and first and foremost we want to take care of that.

“But we also want to win both games and put on two good performances.

“We knew the Hamilton game and the next two matches would be battles as we were in that position last year.

“The manager came in and we got the job done early enough.

“On Saturday, we played some good stuff but we also showed we are up for the fight as well.”

nrobertson@thecourier.co.uk

Craig Wighton has made a quicker-than-expected recovery.