Dark Blues’ injury blow as Wighton faces knee operation

Dundee have suffered a hammer blow with the news that front man Craig Wighton has suffered a cruciate ligament injury and will now undergo an operation on his knee.

Dark Blues boss Neil McCann was unwilling to put a timescale on how long the Scotland Under-21 star will be out for but he did admit that the player will be a huge loss.

The manager had been really impressed with the highly-rated youngster in the games so far this season and he was expecting big things from Wighton this year.

Now, though, those hopes have been dashed.

McCann said: “Craig has done his cruciate and needs an operation so he will see his specialist next week.

“He had looked great in pre-season and we had talked about how he could be a big player for the club this season.

“It was an innocuous one, as they often are, in a bounce game against Bristol City.

“He went by someone and just after that he went down.

“He will get the operation now and receive the best care he can.

“I wouldn’t like to talk about timescales and I don’t think he should be focused on that either.”

Wighton, who made his Dundee debut in October 2013, missed Saturday’s Betfred Cup victory over Buckie Thistle but the rest of the Dundee players had their Sunday off cancelled by the manager who was less than impressed with the performance against the Highland League side.

McCann let assistant Graham Gartland take training but he had a meeting with the players on Monday and he is now keen to move on starting tonight against Cowdenbeath at Central Park.

Supporters of Dundee and Dundee United are being asked to bring donations for Dundee Foodbank with them to Sunday’s derby clash.

The charity will host collections points behind the Bobby Cox and Bob Shankly Stands and at the junction of Provost Road and Dens Road before the Betfred Cup clash.

A spokesman for Dundee Foodbank said: “With over 9,500 referrals over the past year and over 76 tonnes of food distributed, this collection day will be pivotal to help us keep up with an unfortunately high demand.”

The charity said all donations will be gratefully received but they particularly require tinned vegetables, tinned meat, tinned puddings, coffee and toiletries. Fresh or frozen food cannot be accepted.

United’s Willo Flood and Cammy Kerr of Dundee with Michael Calder, Foodbank stock co-ordinator.