Dundee boss Paul Hartley has explained why he has allowed Craig Wighton to go out on loan to Raith Rovers.
The 17-year-old striker is one of the hottest prospects in Scottish football with a host of other clubs including ones in the English Premiership all believed to be keeping tabs on his progress.
He made 17 appearances for the Dark Blues last season, mostly off the bench.
Hartley though is keen for the youngster to play more regularly and hopes he can do so at Stark’s Park under Ray McKinnon who had him on loan for a month when he was boss at Brechin.
However, the Dundee manager has warned Wighton that he can take nothing for granted as he attempts to secure a place in the Championship side’s starting line-up.
He said: “My reasons are to get Craig the game time he needs and to take him out of the limelight a wee bit. He has been round and about the team here since he was 15.
“I just feel he needs to go and play. He was in our squad last season but he still has a lot to learn.
“He also still has to develop physically and I think going there for six months gives him a chance to play week in, week out.
“But he has to go there and play well to stay in the team.
“He’s not going there because he is Craig Wighton and a name, he needs to go there and do the business, and I have said that to him.
Hartley added: “So we hope to see him develop in the six months and get experience.
“He is going to a tough league and he has to realise that. There are big matches against the likes of Rangers and Hibs. It is not a Mickey Mouse league, that’s for sure.
“There were games last season where he did well and there were others when he found it difficult but that’s part of the learning curve.
“People might be surprised (that he let Wighton go on loan) but I am only looking after the player. There has been a lot of pressure on him from a very young age.”
Hartley admitted the fact that McKinnon is manager of Raith was a big factor in letting the player go to Kirkcaldy and the Dens boss also revealed there is a clause in the deal that would allow him to recall the striker during the six-month loan spell.
Hartley said: “Ray knows him well and will look after him.
“Ray likes Craig and as soon as he got the Raith job, he phoned me and I told him our plans were to put him out on loan for six months.
“We know Craig has potential but he has to go there and try to play week in, week out and see if he can handle it.
“He is still 17 and a young man. He was probably the youngest player in any squad last season.
“There is a call-back clause in the deal for us. So if he is doing well, then he could get called back.”