Arbroath move to re-sign Hearts striker Craig Wighton on loan

Craig Wighton is wanted back at Arbroath.

The striker is out of favour at Tynecastle Park following the arrival of new signing Armand Gnanduillet and will be allowed to leave if he wishes.

His contract expires at the end of the season and he enjoyed a brief but productive loan period at Arbroath last season, scoring three times in five games before Covid 19 brought football to a halt.

The Arbroath manager Dick Campbell is eager to bring Wighton back to Gayfield for the second half of the campaign as his club look to move out of the Championship’s relegation zone.

Other Scottish clubs are also interested and are monitoring the situation.

The 23-year-old has managed seven goals in 15 appearances for Hearts this season – including a memorable header in the Scottish Cup semi-final win against Edinburgh rivals Hibs at Hampden Park.

However, he faces strong competition up front from Gnanduillet and Liam Boyce. Both scored in Tuesday night’s 4-0 win against Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park as Hearts moved nine points clear at the top of the Championship.

Wighton did not feature and has not appeared in any of the Gorgie club’s last three matches. He must now decide whether to move on to play more regularly before deciding where his future lies in the summer.

Gnanduillet and Boyce are both pushing for places in Hearts’ starting line-up against Dunfermline on Saturday after their midweek scoring exploits.

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