OWLS CAN GET US FLYING HIGH
All Rhodes should lead to home for Jordan and Fletch
The finesse of the flick-on, the telepathy, the instinct – and the finish.
Lee Bul len knew what he was watching from the Sheffield Wednesday dugout – everything Scotland need but apparently can’t have.
Steve Clarke’s national squad is bereft of strikers who are fit or bang on form.
But the Hi l lsborough No. 2 sti l l harbours a hope that the work he’d just seen between Owls pair Steven Fletcher and Jordan Rhodes could play out in dark blue.
The goal in question was the first of a perfect 27-minute Rhodes hat-trick last weekend.
The £ 27million- worth of striker, whose name they used to chant at Hampden, is finally back on the radar and seeking a renaissance aged 29.
He was fed by a man whose last appearances for Scotland 13 months ago showed exactly why he’s the perfect frontman for the pace and mobility playing off him.
Yet Fletch hasn’t felt compelled to join up since, determined to protect his twilight years in one last push for the English Premier League.
Scotland face the most important games in a generation with the Euro 2020 play- of fs looming in just 13 weeks – but Clarke is desperate for striking talent.
Leigh Griffiths is perennially on the bench for Celtic, apparently never quite ready, while Stevie Naismith is nursing yet another niggle after just five starts all season for Hearts.
Oliver Burke has started four games for Alaves, played 10 off the bench and still hasn’t scored, while Oli McBurnie has just one league start in close on three months for Sheffield United.
Few people understand the dilemma more than Bullen.
The 48-year- old Scot said: “Those games Fletch played in the Nations League last November epitomised everything he’s about.
“We now have great pace and quality in wide areas to play off him – guys like Ryan Christie, Ryan Fraser, James Forrest.
“And Steven’s not greedy. He’s not a typical striker.
“He’ll take his chances when they come but he understands how to do the right thing for the team, get the midf ield runners going past him and the wide guys playing off him.
“l ’ve listened for too long down here as people make a joke
of our national team but there’s talent there now, no question.”
This season Fletcher has started 21 of 22 league games for Wednesday, scoring a dozen, including seven goals in his last six games. Last season he played 40 out of 46.
His fitness isn’t an issue. His recovery, he believes, is.
Bullen said: “He’s not getting any younger and whatever discussion he had with Steve Clarke about Scotland was private.
“But it’s true that we’re getting the benefit of him not going off on international duty.
“He’s not missing a game. He’s getting time to recover properly in the weeks off and that’s reflected in his form.
“Whether or not there’s anything Stevie can do to persuade him I don’t know – but being Scottish, I hate asking that question.
“I was never good enough to play at that level so it’s a bit embarrassing saying to him: ‘Get the jersey on, for ****’s sake, we need you!’ “But I’ve never heard him say it’s over.” The portrait of Fletcher painted by Bullen isn’t one of a selfish veteran only in it for himself. The opposite, in fact.
He said: “Fletch is brilliant around the dressing room.
“He works a lot with the young lads.
“He’s not one of these meathead senior pros – he’s a genuinely good lad who wants to help, support and give advice.
“When he was a youngster at Hibs he had good players around who helped him – and he hasn’t forgotten that.
“Now he’s at the point in his career he feels that he has that to give.
“His experience can’t be underestimated. He has played for big clubs, went over to France and played with Marseille,
“And in his personal life, he lost his dad young and had to grow up quickly.
“You can see he’s had to stand on his own two feet early and he understands the psychology of the kids we have at the club. He’s very considered in how he treats people.”
But whi le Bul len understands Fletcher’s dilemma, the enigma of Rhodes has been a harder puzzle to solve. Transferred for fees of £ 8m, £9m and £10m in his last three moves, his record of 172 goals in the first 317 games of his career is irresistible.
But his struggles in the four years since leaving Blackburn are unfathomable.
It’s three years since the last of his 14 caps, seven years since his last international goal. But Rhodes is still just 29 and Bullen believes he has a rebirth in him.
His perfect hat- trick last weekend against Forest was all the evidence he needed.
The instinct of his left-footed opener, the back-post header for the second and the agility and class of the right-foot overhead kick third were a throwback to his halcyon days.
Bullen said: “Jordan’s had a tough time, pretty much since he left Blackburn.
“He was involved in Norwich’s promotion season last year on loan but only on the periphery, coming off the bench a lot.
“But he’s not old, he’s not had injury problems and you hope the old adage is true that form is temporary but class is permanent.
“That first goal last week sums the two of them up actually. A route one ball from a free-kick from our keeper, edge of the box, Fletch is clever with the f lick- on and there’s Jordan, sniffing about for the goal. It’s why his best form throughout his career has always been with a partner.
“He’s telepathic when he does.
“The problem for him in modern football is so many managers play with one up because they’re afraid of getting outplayed in midfield.
“So he has been out of the picture. Fletch has obviously been first choice and we were playing one up so, even when Jordan got the odd opportunity, he wasn’t quite putting down a marker.
“Then a couple of games ago he came on at half-time and made a positive impact. He grabbed his chance when we gave him it last weekend and that’s the Jordan we’ve been waiting to see.
“He’s the nicest kid you’ll ever meet and credit to him – he has taken a lot of knocks but has never changed. He works hard and believes in himself.
“You forget he was sold for big money – and he was worth it when you look at his scor ing record at Huddersfield and Blackburn.
“But one minute you’re a headline, the next you’re wrapped around a fish supper.
“I’d love to see him get another chance for Scotland though, same as I’d love Fletch and Barry Bannan to be there alongside Liam Palmer.
“These play- off games are a real chance for these guys to play in a f inals – and if we get there I want someone to tap for tickets!”
I’ve never heard Fletch say it’s over – whether he can be persuaded I don’t know