To say this summer was an emotional rollercoaster for Craig Wighton would be something of an understatement.
At the start of June, the 20-year-old Dundee front man helped make history as part of the first Scotland team to beat Brazil at any level in the Toulon tournament.
After that incredible high, just a few short weeks later he endured a devastating low when he suffered the first serious injury of his career in an innocuous challenge in a bounce game.
Wighton, who wrote himself into Dark Blues folklore with a certain winner in the “Doon derby”, is now working tirelessly in rehab after his cruciate operation and has promised to come back even better and stronger than before.
He said: “The Brazil game for the Under-20s was brilliant. We didn’t just scrape the 1-0 win – I thought we were the better team.
“We limited them to not many chances and took ours when we had it.
“I think we deserved to win the game.
“We knew before the match that no Scottish team had ever beaten Brazil but beforehand, there was just a good mood in the camp.
“We had watched a lot of Brazil in their game before and we knew exactly where we could hurt them.
“We were well organised and hard to beat. When we went forward we looked dangerous as well.
“We knew we would make history if we beat them so it was great to be a part of that.
“There are not many players who have that on their CV so it is a good thing to have.
“It was a fantastic achievement for the team. Brazil have some very good players but I think on the day, we wanted it more.”
Wighton returned to Dens in buoyant frame of mind and turned down the chance of some extra time off from boss Neil McCann as he was so determined to make this a season remember but instead, his plans were left in ruins.
He added: “Even when I came back, I felt I had a good pre-season here in the games but then just one of those things, a frustrating injury.
“Especially after the Scotland stuff, I was still on a high. I only had about 10 days off and the manager had said to me to take some extra time away but I wanted to be back in with the squad and to get training straight away.
“So I came in and I was obviously quite fit already because I hadn’t had much time off.
“I felt good in training and thought I was doing well in games.
“It was the day after the Raith cup game when I was playing against Bristol in a friendly that I was unlucky enough to suffer my injury.
“I was playing wide right and I had gone past their left-back. I got a touch just before he did. He nudged me slightly and put me off my stride and I just hyper-extended my knee.
“Straight away, I was in pain and came off. I was limping but I didn’t need crutches.
“I came in the next day and Gerry (club physio Docherty) was a bit concerned. I got a scan the following day and that night he phoned me to tell me I had done my cruciate.
“I was obviously gutted when I heard but it is just one of those things. It is quite common now and players do come back from it.
“Three and a half weeks after that, I got the operation through in Glasgow.
“I was just in for the night as they didn’t want me travelling right after it.
“My girlfriend Bex took me through and we stayed in a hotel. It was the night we played United in the cup at Dens when Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Paul McGowan scored the goals so we were watching that in the room.
“The next morning I went in to have the op. It was the first time in my life that I have had surgery so I didn’t really know what to expect.
“Obviously I was put to sleep so I can’t remember a thing!
“But it all went well and my rehab is going to plan so far.
“I just have to use this time to come back stronger. My agent has three players who have all done their knee and been out long term in the past year and a half and he was saying that they have used the time to work on things that they wouldn’t usually like upper body.
“So I am determined to come back a stronger and better player.”
Wighton is itching to return to action sooner rather than later but he insists he will only return when he is fully fit and ready.
He said: “They said when I did it that I would be out for six to nine months.
“I think that is just standard for everyone so I am hoping it is nearer the six.
“At the same time, I don’t want to rush back when it is not right so it is just about managing it.
“Gerry has been brilliant with me and he knows exactly what he is doing so when he tells me the time is right for me to come back, then that’s when it will be.
“This is the first serious injury of my career and the longest I have been out.
“When I was about 14 or 15, I was out for around six weeks when I tore my hip flexor.
“But it has now been about six weeks since my operation and around 10 weeks since I actually did it.
“So this is longer than any injury so far and I still have a long way to go so it is frustrating.”
Wighton admitted that the mental battle is just as tough as the physical one but he has been given a lot of help especially from rehab buddy James McPake, who has been out since breaking his kneecap against United nearly two years ago.
He said: “Jazza (McPake) is in doing his rehab as well working every day to get fit.
“He has been really good with me.
“Jazza has been there for so long and he gives me lots of advice like just try to switch off from football when I am away from here.
“When you are coming in and watching the games that’s when you miss it the most.
“You are sitting there knowing it will still be a while before you can play again.
“It is fine during the week when you are in working in the gym but on match day you miss it more and more.
“It is hard as you don’t really feel part of it as you are usually the first one down the gym and by the time you come up and have your lunch, most of the boys are gone as well.
“So it is really frustrating but I am doing everything possible to get back as quickly as I can.
“Even now, I feel I am walking fine again and when I am in the gym doing all my stuff my leg feels OK.
“But you just need to get it into your head that it is going to be long and slow.
“I feel I have dealt with it fine so far – it is what it is.
“There are people who have had a lot worse injuries. Look at Jazza for instance.
“So I can’t really go about with my head down – I just need to stay as positive as I can.
“I get lots of support from my girlfriend, my mum and dad. They were there the night of the operation and all the way through.
“Everyone has been brilliant. Anything I have needed, they are all running about after me.
“For the first couple of weeks, I maybe milked it a bit but everyone has been really good to me.”
Wighton admitted that once he is fit, he is also looking to become a better player – on the golf course.
He added: “My grandad got me a couple of golf lessons for my birthday.
“I had the first one and then did my knee so I haven’t been back for the second one.
“It will probably be a wee while until I can do that.
“I am not very good so that’s why I needed the lessons.
“It is something I would like to get into but I will look to get back onto the park first.”
