Robbie Neilson plans further Hearts work with Craig Wighton - 'he can be the main target man'

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson believes he can convert Craig Wighton into an out-and-out lone striker.

Robbie Neilson loves working with Craig Wighton.

The former Dundee youngster opened his Tynecastle account with a hat-trick against Raith Rovers and has pushed himself into first-team contention with his displays in the Betfred Cup.

Neilson is a huge fan of the 23-year-old and while admitting he is far from the finished article, the Jambos gaffer believes he can become the target man in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

“I’ve been so pleased with Craig,” Neilson told the Evening News. "We used the pre-season games to get him up to speed. I still think he has a way to go in terms of leading the line as a single striker. He's spent a lot of his time recently out wide and I think he can be the main target man. It's about learning from guys like Lee McCulloch [Hearts assistant coach and former striker] and Boycie about how he does that.”

Neilson is glad to finally get his hands on a player he tried to sign during his first spell as Hearts manager.

"I've known him for a long time - I knew him at Dundee when he was a young kid and I tried to get him here the first time I was manager, but I couldn't get him,” added Neilson.

“He went to Arbroath on loan last year and played against Dundee United when I was there and did very, very well. They were desperate to get him back this year, but I wanted to keep a hold of him as I know he's got potential. I think he's starting to show that now.”

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