Pundit Andy Cameron believes that Celtic might need a striker like Steven Fletcher in the current first-team.
Cameron was a guest on the latest episode of ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ podcast and the panel discussed many issues surrounding Celtic and the club’s first-team. They also discussed the club’s transfers and Cameron talked about former Hoops target Fletcher. He believes that a striker like him is someone that the Bhoys need in the team right now.
The Daily Record had reported some days ago that the Hoops were ‘set’ to sign the striker, but the Scotsman has now joined Championship side Stoke City.
Cameron believes that Celtic’s recent 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock shows that the Hoops need a player like Fletcher.
The pundit said: “For me, the squad that we have just now, Steven Fletcher is this type of player – we don’t have a number nine who is that type of player who might win second balls for the side. I felt [in] the last 20 minutes against Kilmarnock, we were crying out for a big number nine – a big, stupid number nine to stand up there and we win second balls off of him.
Will Celtic regret missing out on Fletcher?
Not at all
Yes, we'll regret it
“We could have got deliveries in from deep. We never had that in the squad and I don’t think [Albian] Ajeti brings that.”
TIF Thoughts…
Fletcher was in good goalscoring form for Sheffield Wednesday in the 2019/20 season and found the back of the net 13 times in all competitions. All of those 13 goals came in the Championship (as per Transfermarkt).
Fletcher, who is valued at £1.26m, has played in the Premiership before, as he had a spell at Hibernian in the past. So he is a player who would have offered the experience of having previously played in the Premiership (as per Transfermarkt).
Since he has now signed for Stoke though, the option of signing the 33-year-old no longer exists for the Hoops. Celtic fans can only hope that the signing of Ajeti works out and they don’t regret missing out on Fletcher.