Unsurprisingly, Craig Levein’s decision to deploy a 4-6-0 formation against the Czech Republic in Prague during Scotland’s unsuccessful attempts to reach Euro 2012 got a negative reaction from many people. Scotland ultimately lost the game 1-0, and it came back to haunt them, as a home draw against the Czechs effectively ended their chances of finishing second in their group and reaching the playoffs.
In the wake of that match, Wolves striker Steven Fletcher was critical of Levein and his tactics, claiming he hadn’t received an explanation as to why he had been snubbed for the Czech match. Levein subsequently dropped Fletcher from the Scotland squad for a friendly match against the Faroe Islands. Fletcher was however, included in Levein’s squad for Scotland’s Carling Nations Cup match against Northern Ireland last February, but he allegedly sent a text message liaison officer Frank Reilly, stating that he did not wish to be included in the squad, and that Levein should phone him if he wanted him in the squad. Inevitably, Levein was less than impressed by Fletcher’s attitude, and he hasn’t been selected in a squad since.
Steven Fletcher broke into the Hibs first team during the 04/05 season as a 17 year old. He scored 5 goals in his first season, and went on to score 52 goals in 189 games for the Easter Road side, including 2 in their 5-1 win over Kilmarnock in the 2007 League Cup final, Hibs first trophy in more than 15 years. During his time at Hibs, it was reported that Real Madrid scouts had watched him playing for Scotland’s youth teams. In January 2009, he was linked with a move to Middlesbrough, before Celtic attempted to sign him. Despite Fletcher stating that he felt it was time to move on, Hibs refused to sell. After failing to defend their league title that year, some Celtic fans felt not signing Fletcher had been a huge factor in them finishing behind Rangers in the league.
With Owen Coyle looking to strengthen Burnley’s squad following their promotion to the Premier League, he targeted Fletcher and Hibs rejected a £2.75million bid in June 2009. After a few days of negotiations, a £3million fee, plus future incentives was agreed for Fletcher, and he moved to English football in July.
Hibs legend Keith Wright questioned whether Fletcher was ready to make the step up to Premier League football, but Fletcher impressed for Burnley, scoring a total of 12 goals, including 8 in the Premier League. Burnley slipped down the table after Owen Coyle left for Bolton, and they were relegated at the end of the season. Fletcher was named Player’s Player of the Year, and he had impressed enough for Mick McCarthy to pay a club record £6.5million to bring Fletcher to Wolves.
Although Fletcher scored on his Wolves debut, Mick McCarthy favoured a 4-5-1 formation, with Kevin Doyle being his preferred choice as the lone striker. But after Doyle picked up an injury in March, Fletcher got back into the team, and he scored 5 goals in Wolves final 7 games of the season, helping them to pick up 8 points in those games, which ultimately resulted in Wolves finishing 17th in the league.
This season, Wolves have struggled in the league, but Fletcher has been a standout. His goal against Tottenham was his 9th of the season, coming in just 16 appearances. He’s also scored against Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal, and has been linked with a big money move in January.
Fletcher will turn 25 this year, and is improving as a player in one of Europe’s best leagues. With Scotland facing a tough qualifying group for the 2014 World Cup, it is time for Craig Levein and Fletcher to kiss and make up. Scotland are hardly blessed with great striking options, although Levein has recently capped Brighton’s Craig Mackail-Smith, and Huddersfield’s Jordan Rhodes, who is in stunning form, having scored 32 goals in 23 games this season, albeit in League One. Scotland have more experienced options in Kenny Miller and James McFadden, and David Goodwillie and Jamie Mackie have been in recent squads, but are not scoring regularly for their clubs.
Fletcher has shown that he is capable of troubling the best defenders in the Premier League, and is in the form of his life. If that continues over the next year, then Craig Levein will have no option but to sit down with Fletcher and try and persuade him to return to the fold for Scotland.
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