A new chapter in Craig Wighton's Hearts story after 24 long matches
The 23-year-old forward had played 24 matches for Hearts before the Betfred Cup tie against Raith Rovers and had failed to score in all of them. Chances, yes, some easier than others. But as the games started to rack up, the pressure intensified. Would Wighton, whose Tynecastle career has been far from plain sailing, be destined to never score for the club who forked out a six-figure fee to Dundee for him in August 2018?
They say form is temporary, class is permanent. Wighton has always been a well-regarded prospect in Scotland. Yet, a record such as his was beginning to increase doubts, so when he stepped up after just two minutes to take a penalty, the few bodies inside Tynecastle held their breath a little, knowing the magnitude of the moment for the slender striker.
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Hide AdThere are ways to break your scoring duck, and there are ways to obliterate it. Wighton chose the latter. Not content with one goal, he decided to bag three. Why turn the taps off when it’s taken so long to force them open? His brace of first-half penalties, followed by a classy late run and finish to complete the hat-trick and dispatch Rovers 3-1, were his best moments in a Hearts shirt by a long way. He is liberated, of that there is no doubt.
Wighton’s Hearts career up to this point has been tough. A lot was expected of him when Craig Levein signed him, but a combination of injuries, being shunted around in different positions and the awful malaise that set in at Tynecastle not long after he arrived hampered his development. There were some good, albeit fleeting moments – he started a Scottish Cup semi-final against Inverness and took part in the final – but when Daniel Stendel arrived as boss last winter, Wighton’s face didn’t fit at all. He was farmed out to Arbroath, where he rediscovered his scoring touch with three goals in five games before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Back at Hearts, current gaffer Robbie Neilson rates him and wants to nurture his talent.
Weight of the world on his shoulders
"It's been on my mind, that goal,” admitted Wighton. “Obviously I've had a few chances to score since I've been here and I hadn't done that, so hopefully now I can score a few more.
"It's been a bit frustrating at times – I think everybody knows that – but I've finally got off the mark and to get three, it'll do me the world of good."
Wighton’s case has not been helped by a tetchy Tynecastle support, understandably hacked off by the club’s sub-standard performances for the best part of two years. The Dundonian admits the flak affected him, but hopes the Gorgie faithful can be won over by his displays this season.
"Obviously I want to prove people wrong,” continued Wighton. “I want to show the fans what I can do because I've not really done that yet. Like I say, it's just a start. It's good to get my first goals, but the real stuff starts on Friday. The main target this year is the league, so hopefully I can score plenty of goals there.”
Playing against his old club
The Scotland Under-21 internationalist is more than capable at Championship level. The league campaign begins on Friday when his formative club Dundee come to town. Wighton knows the pressure is on Hearts to perform, but with his ear still close to the ground in the City of Discovery, he is also aware that the onus will be on Dundee to make a fist of it too.
"I think there will be,” when asked if there is a heavy expectation on the Dens Park men. “There's a lot of good teams in the league. I went to Arbroath last year and the standard there is really high as well. It's up to us to get off to a good start. There's only 27 games so there's no time not to get off to a good start. We are all looking forward to getting going.
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Hide Ad“Everyone thinks Hearts are the favourites - and so we should be - but I've played plenty of games in that league and if we don't work hard, if we don't go out there and play to the best of our ability, then teams will take points off us. We need to be at it every single game.
"When we go away to these teams, everyone will want to beat Hearts, so we need to be ready for that."
Fighting for his place
Despite bagging a hat-trick against Raith, who Hearts will face a further three times in the league, Wighton is not an absolute certainty to play against Dundee. The Jambos’ main striker, Liam Boyce, returns from international duty with Northern Ireland and is undoubtedly Neilson’s most prized forward. Captain Steven Naismith can also lead the line and is likely to be involved following a slight back complaint.
Wighton is aware of the landscape. He knows one swallow does not make a summer, but at the same time hopes his feats have at least given Neilson food for thought.
"It'll be up to the manager,” added Wighton. “It's a short season with a lot of games coming up, so I think boys will rotate a lot this year. It's up to you when you're in to do enough to stay in the team. Hopefully I've done that but if not, I'll be ready to come into the team when I'm needed.”