James McPake hasn’t ruled out bringing Craig Wighton back to Dundee.
The Dark Blues boss understands why a player who came through the ranks at Dens Park returning to his boyhood club would be a 2+2=4 equation now that the Doon Derby hero has fallen out of favour with new Jam Tarts manager Daniel Stendel.
But that doesn’t mean it will happen.
“I loved working with Wighty when he was here,” said McPake. “I know his character and his talent.
“He’s training with the reserves at Hearts but there’s nothing happening with that. Will it? I’m genuinely not sure.
“Wighty got put to us at the start of the season. He’s one we’re aware of and one we know very well but he’s a Hearts player at the minute.
“When players like that pop up they turn your head but we don’t want to react to every player.
“We’re working as club on a plan. But if good players become available that plan can be put to the side at times.”
Meanwhile, MK Dons’ interest in Graham Dorrans hasn’t affected the midfielder’s commitment on the training pitch, according to McPake. And nor will it affect his availability to play against Ayr United on Saturday.
“He’s trained very well over the last two days,” said the manager.
“If he’s here come the weekend he’ll be involved. My opinion hasn’t changed – I think he will be. That’s how I’ve felt all along unless something drastically changes.
“I hope that’s not my heart ruling my head.
“He’s been really professional in the way he’s dealt with it. He wanted the game out of the road and then he spoke to them. We’ve no issues with it at all.
“No news is good news and I’m certainly not pushing him.
“He’s been through this before. When he was at West Brom he had West Ham chasing him for a lot of money and he was still performing every week.
“When there’s a bit of chaos off the pitch you find that these type of players thrive on it.
“He’s an experienced player with good character. He still looks very committed in training.
“I could never understand players who would be thinking: ‘I’m moving, I don’t really need to do that’. I’ve seen it. That’s certainly not been the case with Graham.”
McPake added: “He’s key to what we’re trying to do but we knew when we signed him that this might happen.
“We’re prepared for whatever happens. We’ll be strengthening whether he is here or not and hopefully it’s to put players around him.”
There is “nothing imminent” regarding St Johnstone midfielder Ross Callachan.
“I like him but I must have had easily over 500 phone calls over the last week,” said McPake. “Names from everywhere. He’s one who has been put to us.”
McPake, who is hoping to agree a couple of pre-contracts for next season, is looking to get the club away from the big transition transfer windows of old – as rivals Dundee United have now managed to do.
“I don’t like talking about other clubs but I think the way they’ve done it has been good,” he said. “In the summer they hardly brought anybody in.
“We don’t want six or seven every window. It’s tough on a dressing room and tough for the club.
“We need to keep building every window – looking to add and get stronger with every one.
“We’re fourth in the league which isn’t great but it’s a process and we need to believe in what we’re trying to do.
“I’d be quite happy keeping this squad and adding a couple.
“We need to make sure we’re in the play-offs with a chance to get to the Premiership and we’re looking to build a team that can compete there.”
