Robbie Neilson hands Craig Wighton a key role at Hearts this season

Striker looks ‘fit and hungry to be successful’

Hearts striker Craig Wighton will get chances to play this season.

Hearts will give Craig Wighton the chance to resurrect his Tynecastle career by using him as a central striker this season.

Manager Robbie Neilson is a long-term admirer of the forward and believes he can reach double figures in the Scottish Championship scoring charts.

Neilson attempted to sign Wighton from Dundee in 2016 during his first spell in charge of Hearts. He finally moved to Edinburgh in August 2018 when Craig Levein paid a six-figure sum to secure his signature.

Wighton has since struggled with injuries and loss of form, resulting in him dropping out of the first team. He spent part of last season on loan at Arbroath.

His fitness and appetite upon returning to Riccarton for pre-season training impressed coaching staff, and he led Hearts’ forward line in recent bounce matches against St Mirren and Burnley.

The 23-year-old is now set to compete with the Northern Ireland internationalist Liam Boyce for the centre-forward position. Captain Steven Naismith is expected to play in a slightly deeper role.

“I see Craig as a striker,” Neilson told the Evening News. “I've already had a conversation with him about where we see him, getting him to stay in the middle of the goals and be the target for us in that central area.

“We recruited to bring in wide men so we now have two wide-right players and two wide-left players. We have a few number tens so we see Craig as being a striker along with Boycie.

“I really like him as a player. When I was at Hearts before I tried to sign him from Dundee but it didn't work out. He has come back from lockdown having filled out, looking fit and hungry to be successful.

“He has been leading the line well with Boycie being away on international duty. I expect him to be a big player for us this season.

“I think it's important we have two or three players who can bang in double figures for us and I see Craig as being one of them.”

Wighton is in the final 12 months of his three-year Hearts contract. He has made 22 competitive appearances in maroon so far and has yet to open his scoring account.

Neilson may consider signing an extra striker before the transfer window closes on October 5, but for now his priorities are a centre-back and central midfielder.

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