James McPake has seen a lot of good youngsters throughout his career but he believes Dundee starlet Craig Wighton could well be the best of the lot.
The 30-year-old centre-half has played with the likes of Robert Snodgrass and Graham Dorrans at Livingston and Leigh Griffiths at Hibs.
While admitting it is difficult to make direct comparisons with 17-year-old Wighton, he thinks the teenager possesses all the qualities required to go right to the top.
The striker came off the subs’ bench at half-time and produced a sparkling 45-minute cameo appearance against Partick Thistle on Saturday, with his pace and movement causing the Jags defence all sorts of problems.
It was no surprise that it was Wighton who finally opened the scoring for the Dark Blues when the tireless Jim McAlister played him in on Thistle keeper Scott Fox.
He showed calmness and maturity well beyond his years, taking a touch before slotting past the keeper to score his first SPFL goal.
McPake said: “We probably had our worst 45 minutes of the season in the first half but we managed to turn it around and get back into the game.
“Craig Wighton came on and he was magnificent. I have seen some good young players but he is up there with the best.
“It’s now just about getting games for him but you could see when he came on, he changed the game for us with the positions he was getting into and what he can do on the ball.
“He is a good player and what we see in training he brings to the pitch.
“He will take the ball in any position on the park no matter if he has a defender right up his back. He can do stuff on the ball that only special players can do.
“I was delighted for him when he got his goal and he was unlucky with another one late on when he nearly got through again.
“He is still young but has a really bright future if he knuckles down and works away.
“Craig can be as good as he wants to be, it is up to him. He is a special talent and he just needs experience now. He just wants to come in and play football like any young boy.
“I think he is every bit as good as wee Sparky (Griffiths), Graham Dorrans and Robert Snodgrass but it is difficult to make comparisons as they all went on to become full internationals. Craig’s still only 17 but he can be as good as he wants to be.”
Dundee were crying out for the spark provided by Wighton after a first 45 in which they toiled against Thistle.
The visitors had taken the lead with a stunning goal by the impressive Gary Fraser, who unleashed an unstoppable shot past the despairing Kyle Letheren from all of 22 yards in just the fourth minute.
The Dark Blues struggled to carve out chances with only a Peter MacDonald free-kick which flew narrowly wide giving the home fans something to get excited about.
The introduction of Wighton at half-time for the disappointing Luka Tankulic sparked the Dundee revival, with Paul Hartley’s men dominating the second 45.
Before the teenager’s goal, his side came close to equalising when a Gary Harkins free-kick from the right bounced off the top of Fox’s crossbar.
Then, after Wighton scored, the match exploded into controversy.
First, McPake took a tumble in the box under a challenge by Daniel Seaborne with referee Craig Charleston pointing to the spot, to the astonishment and anger of the Partick players.
As the official backed away, Fox walked after him and fended off Dundee’s Paul McGowan, catching him in the face. The official decided that Fox had aimed a punch and showed the keeper a straight red card.
Veteran stopper Paul Gallacher came on and became an instant hero, saving Harkins’ penalty with his legs.
The goalie later produced an outstanding diving save from a MacDonald header to ensure that, despite Dundee’s dominance, his side left Dens with a share of the spoils.
McPake admitted that his recollection of the penalty incident was hazy.
However, one thing he is certain about is that he will not be indulging in any premature spot-kick celebrations any time soon.
He said: “I’ve not seen it back but it is one of those where the ball comes into the box and as far as I remember there was a tangle and the ref gave a penalty.
“Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t. I’ll need to sit down and watch it but with the speed of the game, there is a tangle.
“When the penalty was given, I was obviously happy with that. I didn’t appeal as by the time I was up, it was a penalty.
“I did celebrate and that’s maybe a note to myself never to celebrate a penalty until it is actually in the net.
“I still think we showed a lot of courage to come back from what was a very poor first half display.
“To be honest, I think we have been disappointed in the three games so far to only come away with a point from each of them.
“We have had chances in the three of them to win them. Again, though, we have to look at it on a positive note which we always try to do.”
The other player involved at the controversial penalty, former Exeter, Southampton and Coventry defender Seaborne, had to bite his lip over what he thought about the decision.
He said: “To be honest, I can’t really comment on it as I would get myself in trouble.
“If that’s a foul then I have done it for my whole career and never been pulled up for it in every league in England. I was extremely disappointed. Being stronger than someone isn’t a foul.
“It wasn’t a foul in my eyes but Gall has made a fantastic save so credit to him.”