Dark Blues striker left frustrated by end of season

Dundee: Wighton staying positive as curtain falls on frustrating campaign

I feel fit, I feel good and it’s a bit frustrating that’s the season done now. CRAIG WIGHTON

Most football players are more than ready for their summer break.

But Craig Wighton is cursing it. The Dundee forward only got back to fitness in time to make seven appearances at the end of the campaign.

And just as he is starting to feel match fit, the season has ended.

Wighton, who does have the Toulon tournament to look forward to with the Scotland under-21s next month, said: “The frustrating thing for me, personally, is I’m just starting to get into it.

“I’m starting to feel fully match fit and the season is done.

“It’s frustrating but I’ll go away in the summer and work hard, come back fit and hopefully get a full pre-season under my belt and start the next campaign well.

“Maybe last Tuesday night against Ross County I got a bit leggy towards the end before I came off but I felt good against Partick.

“I feel fit, I feel good and, as I say, it’s a bit frustrating that’s the season done now.

“For a lot of the boys they’ll maybe be glad it’s done because it’s been a long one but for me, I’ve just had a pre-season.”

The season finished on a downer for Dundee with the home defeat to Partick Thistle and Wighton believes Dark Blues boss Neil Mccann was right to point the finger.

“The manager wasn’t happy and the players weren’t either,” he said.

“It’s all right if it’s not your day and you get beaten but the way we played, second half especially, is not acceptable.

“We knew Partick were fighting for their lives and would have a go at us but I don’t think we showed any real quality in the final third.

“Obviously we did our bit earlier after the split but we wanted to win every game. Four out of five would have been a good return so we are disappointed.

“Everyone will go away and have a good summer and next season we know we have to be a lot better.”

It wasn’t a memorable season for Dundee’s forward players in terms of goal numbers and Wighton will be looking to do his bit to make sure that changes in 2018-19.

“Not taking our chances has really cost us,” he admitted.

“We haven’t been clinical enough in front of goal and that’s the difference. You look at Kilmarnock, with Kris Boyd scoring goals for them. But we feel we’re a better side than Kilmarnock.

“We are, but we just haven’t had that cutting edge in the final third.

“Obviously, I didn’t get a goal this term, which is frustrating but I think the main thing for me was that I didn’t even think I would play this season .”