Striker Wighton’s season written off by injury in ‘innocuous’ challenge in friendly
Dundee were dealt a hammerblow last night as star striker Craig Wighton looks almost certain to be ruled out for the whole season.
The 19-year-old has ruptured his cruciate ligament and is set to see a specialist this week to have his injury operated on as the Dens Park side come to terms with his huge loss.
Wighton, who starred for Scotland under-21s in the recent Toulon tournament, injured his knee in a friendly against Bristol City last week and now faces the prospect of not kicking a ball for Neil Mccann’s men this season.
Mccann said: “Craig has done his cruciate and needs an operation. 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 in a bounce game. He went by someone and went down.
“He will get the operation and get the best care he can get. I wouldn’t like to talk about timescales and I don’t think he should be focused on that.”
Mccann scrapped his players’ day off on Sunday following their below-par performance in the 2-0 Betfred Cup winagainstbuckiethistleand they hope to put things right against Cowdenbeath tonight before Sunday’s derby with Dundee United at Dens Park.
Mccann said: “We were in on Sunday but I didn’t see them. I was in but Graham Gartland (assistant manager) took the training.
“The players know what’s expected, it could have been five or six nothing and that still might not have excused them being in on a Sunday.
“I don’t think you can be deliberate with things like that and have a preconceived idea about things. It was natural.
“I made the decision on the back of what I’d seen, I don’t think you can ever think ‘I’m going to have them in this week’ because it quickly becomes false.
“It felt necessary. It was a reaction and if they perform under-par again like that then they’ll be expecting to be in.”
Meanwhile, Dundee are closing in on a deal to sign ex-inverness defender Josh Meekings.