Dundee superkid Craig Wighton is closing in on a return to action.
The Scotland U/21 international has been given the go-ahead to resume full-contact training and should get part of a game in the next fortnight or so.
That is set to see him back in Neil McCann’s first-team plans by around the end of this month.
Back in July, it was feared the 20-year-old would be ruled out for the entire season when he snapped a cruciate ligament in his knee in a Development team friendly.
He quickly had surgery to repair the damage but was told his recovery would take anything from six months to a year.
To date, Wighton’s rehab work has gone without a hitch and he’s now on course to be back after seven months.
He’s been working in the gym throughout his absence and been running since December.
Now, he’s stepped up his training and may even see some action when the Dark Blues U/20s are in Development League derby action against city rivals Dundee United next week.
A decision on that will be taken nearer the game and it would be a surprise if the attacker was given any more than half-an-hour or so on his return.
He’s also likely to need at least another two or three outings before he could be considered for the first team.
But, if things continue to go as well as they have, Wighton could be back playing in front of fans on a Saturday at the end of the month or early in March.
His return will be a major boost to a side that has struggled for goals all season and, even with the addition of Simon Murray up front, still looks light in attack.
Sofien Moussa remains the top scorer this season with eight goals, but five of them came against lower league opposition in the Betfred Cup in the opening weeks of the season.
Leading the way in Premiership matches is A-Jay Leitch-Smith.
Six of the Englishman’s seven goals have come in the league.
The Development team is due to see action tonight when they are scheduled to face Hibs at Links Park, Montrose.
And, despite the wintry weather up and down much of the east coast, it could go ahead.
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