The teenage striker would, however, take a seat back on the bench. Three forwards had already been brought on ahead of him and the final two changes would see Tom Renaud and Tomas Magnusson enter the game in the final 15 minutes.
It has been an equally interesting and frustrating last 12 months for Wilson.
Having made the step from the under-19s to the first team via the B team under Steven Naismith, then had faith placed in him by Neil Critchley, he looked like being something of a rarity, an academy graduate that would make a big impact at first-team level.
That was only strengthened by the way Derek McInnes spoke about Wilson last summer. He raved about his ability during the pre-season camp in Spain and spoke of the player's movement and how he had a lot to offer.
He scored in the opening two Premier Sports Cup group stage matches and featured in the first three Premiership fixtures. However, he would make just three more appearances for Hearts before a loan switch to Tottenham Hotspur, who had faced competition from Arsenal for the signing.
Despite comments from McInnes that the loan switch to the Premier League side wasn't right for him, Wilson arrived back at Tynecastle Park this summer better for his time away.
In hindsight, with Lawrence Shankland injured, the club unable to bring a striker in and Claudio Braga toiling towards the end of the campaign, Hearts could really have done with another striker. A striker like Wilson who can score a goal.
At that time, Wilson, quite rightly, didn't see where game time was coming from, having played just 10 minutes of first-team football between the start of September and the end of January. He wasn't in the squad for 14 league games.
At Spurs, he was in an elite environment.
While he played Premier League 2 football, he trained regularly with the Spurs first-team. He was named on the bench for games against Arsenal and Liverpool.
Wilson, it is understood, made a positive impression with Igor Tudor and then Roberto De Zerbi, going from a young player who trained with the first team to being a trusted individual who could handle himself.
It was an environment that also provided more insight and knowledge of what it takes to be a player at that level. Yes, Spurs narrowly avoided relegation, but it was a squad that was packed with internationals.
During his time in London, Wilson's weight went up, but his body fat percentage remained the same. He added muscle, something that Hearts fans noticed from pictures during pre-season. The nutrition and conditioning side of the game was an eye-opener.
A lot of attention was paid to what players were eating, while he would be given a packed lunch to take away. Only it wasn't food, but supplements that are required for a professional footballer as an athlete.
Returning from North London this summer, Wilson remains in a curious position. He has a year left on his deal at Tynecastle and Hearts Standard understands that there is a mutual option. Meanwhile, Spurs retain an interest in the player.
But for now, he is at Hearts. He wants to play for Hearts, but more than anything, he wants to play regular football.
Once again, the signs early in pre-season were encouraging. Wouter Vrancken pinpointed the striker for praise early in his tenure, noting his excellent movement. He scored in the first pre-season friendly, a proper striker goal.
Since then, the Belgian has opted for others in attack, with Wilson limited to just a half against Raith Rovers on Friday night, having not been in the squad for Arbroath or Rayo Vallecano and not featured against Sturm Graz.
Read more
Stephen Kingsley on Hearts style change and the adjustment, plus captaincy
Peter Haring on meeting Hearts fans, Tynecastle return and 'my favourite team'
What Laurent Mendy will add to Hearts midfield as outlines preparation quirk outlined
Curiously, if there was a Hearts player you wanted to be on the end of those two big chances in Austria, it was probably Wilson.
The case of Wilson leads to a bigger point about opportunities for academy players at Hearts.
The club only named 22 players in their Champions League squad List A and Wilson was the only club-trained player. He was one of only three players 23 and under in the main list (Jordi Altena and Tomas Magnusson the others).
Contrast that with Sturm Graz. They named a full allocation of 25 players. Of their starting XI, eight were 23 or under, including 17-year-old goalscorer Luca Weinhandl and the impressive Jacob Hodl, just 19.
This isn't solely a Hearts issue; it is a discussion that is relevant to Scottish football as a whole. But Hearts had the second-oldest team, on average, last season, and offered the fewest number of minutes for young players. Granted, the team were in the midst of a title battle.
Vrancken has encountered a situation where he has a bloated squad and is trying to figure out who he wants and what he needs, all the while trying to implement his style.
Hearts have brought in four players 24 or under into the first team this season, but they have also seen a number of the club's most promising talent move south.
Alfie Osborne, Boyd Fraser and Keir McMeekin have all joined Premier League clubs.
In reality, Hearts had little to no chance of keeping the players at the club. For example, Osborne had a call with Barcelona before opting for Chelsea. The Stamford Bridge club provided evidence of the vast majority of the club's academy players at a certain age going on to have long football careers.
McMeekin was sold on Manchester City early on. The club provide a life coach and are already getting to work sorting an injury issue the teenager had sustained last season.
The environment, the ceiling and the money are aspects that Hearts and other clubs will struggle to compete with. Rangers have done well retaining highly-rated individuals, but there is a pecking order in football and Premier League clubs are even signing players from other clubs now.
Graeme Jones was asked by a fan at the recent Foundation of Hearts event about losing young players down south. He spoke of the finances that are there and how the club can't compete unless regulations change.
He then added that Hearts have to "sell what we are, sell our pathway, sell the fact that there's more chance and more opportunity of a career, and if they're successful with us they'll go on to achieve much higher levels".
He had also noted that developing the club's own young talent is what they want to succeed most, but it is the most difficult thing to do.
But it becomes even more difficult for Hearts to retain such talents if a clear pathway to the first team is not obvious.
For a time, Wilson looked like he would be the best selling point for youngsters to stay at Hearts, having made the step up. But having done so, he's not started a competitive game for the club since August 28.
It is currently not a strong selling point for the club.
How the situation unfolds in the coming weeks or months is fascinating, but the past 12 months haven't gone the way they were meant to, or should have, for one of the club's most highly rated and talented academy products.