Wighton full of joys of life as well as football

Craig Wighton will approach the final weeks of the Championship campaign with a renewed sense of perspective.

Of course, Dunfermline’s bid to secure a play-off place is a matter of immense professional pride and Wighton’s burning desire to end the Pars’ recent malaise is obvious.

However, there are more important things in life than football.

The 23-year-old is reflecting on becoming a father for the first time, with baby Winnie having arrived in the world on April 3. Although a Saturday, dad was ineligible to face parent club Hearts that day.

“It’s nice to see her already working around the football – she’ll need to get used to it,” laughed Wighton.

Yet football was the furthest thing from the mind of the former Dundee favourite as he and girlfriend Bex celebrated the addition to their family.

“People always tell you ‘things will change’ and you’ll get a different outlook, and you wonder if that’ll be the case,” Wighton told The Courier.

“But it’s absolutely true. It was the best feeling in the world when she was born.

“Suddenly, everything else seems a wee bit less important; every decision is ‘how will that effect Winnie and the family’. That’s all that matters. When you have a daughter, there’s a lot more to life.

“Football is what I love to do. I’ve worked my whole life to become a footballer and I know that it means a lot to everyone – it does to me, too – but even in the last fortnight, I’ve had a different perspective on things.”

Over an occasionally jumpy phone line as Wighton returns from training in Alloa to his Dundee home (car journeys provide a rare moment of tranquility for any new father), he explains that the sense of anticipation which

accompanied Winnie’s arrival was only heightened by their decision not to find out the sex of the baby in advance.

“I was convinced we were having a wee boy but my missus was saying: ‘I’ve got a feeling it’s a girl’.

“I should’ve known trust her,” he continued.

“I wasn’t quite confident enough to buy lots of stuff for a boy – which is for the best – but I was just saying to everyone: ‘It’s going to be a boy’.

“We always said that when we had a bairn, we wouldn’t want to know what we were having, but when it’s only a couple of weeks until the due date, you are absolutely desperate to find out.”

Dunfermline just may have the most sleep deprived strike-force in Europe when they line up against Queen of the South today, with Declan McManus and his partner Jennifer celebrating the to

birth of

Monday.

The Pars may need to open an internal creche soon. “Deccy (McManus) had a wee boy and there are about seven other boys who have partners who were due over the last couple of months... I’m blaming that lockdown.”

Wighton is in jovial mood; evidently fulfilled personally and – after a challenging couple of years at Hearts – professionally. Dunfermline may not be setting the heather alight, but he feels appreciated and ready to begin a new chapter in his life.

Currently on loan from the Jambos, a two-year permanent contract will kick in from the summer and, with four goals from nine outings, Wighton has already shown himself to have an eye for goal even in a Pars side currently lacking in potency.

“Knowing the baby was coming was the biggest a baby boy on

factor in my come here,” Wighton.

“I knew my contract was up and the end of the season and I had been in and out of the Hearts team, albeit I thought I did well when I was picked.

“As well as wanting to play every week and join a club where I would enjoy my football and the atmosphere, I needed security for my family.

“In terms of ticking all the boxes — professionally and personally — I just had a good feeling from the moment it came up.

“I still live in Dundee, so it’s not too far from home. I just feel like this is the perfect place for the next stage in my life, and to kick on in my career.”

The most pressing waypoint in that bid to “kick on” is playing a part in the promotion play-offs.

Dunfermline are without a victory in seven outings and, having led the division

decision to continued

on November 20, now find themselves one point adrift of fourth-placed Inverness.

However, Wighton remains defiant and driven to ensure this campaign does not fizzle out.

“We’ve defended well in the last couple of games,” he said. “Our shape without the ball has been solid and we haven’t conceded many chances, but that has taken away some of our attacking threat.

“It’s vital that we find that balance. We all know that we haven’t scored enough goals but we are working really hard to rectify that.

“It’s about trying things, being brave and creative, and hopefully it will click in the final third.

“If you look at the players we have in the attacking areas, there are goals there and there is still time to prove that and build momentum at the perfect time of the season,” he added.

ENTHUSIASTIC: Becoming a father was one of the factors that helped Craig Wighton opt for Dunfermline.