WARNOCK: COME ON, FLETCH, TOP THE CHARTS...
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Neil Warnock has challenged Ashley Fletcher to finish the season as the club’s top scorer as his contract stand-off rumbles on.
The 25-year-old’s existing deal expires this summer, but the striker appears set to wait until the end of the campaign to decide his future.
Boro boss Warnock insists he has no issue with the player and hopes to get the best form out of him for the remainder of the season.
“I know what Fletch can do and at the moment he’s as good as anyone else in the league at what he does,” said Warnock.
“I’d challenged him to finish as top scorer despite being out for so long and I’d be more than delighted if he did top our scoring charts.”
Fletcher was Boro’s top scorer last season, but has missed four months this term with a hamstring injury and was not available for yesterday’s home clash with Cardiff after he was forced off during the midweek defeat to Bristol City.
The Manchester United academy graduate has scored recently against Huddersfield and Reading, but Warnock wants his long-term future sorted sooner rather than later.
“His contribution against Reading was immense – he scored a very good goal and he didn’t give their centre-halves a moment’s peace,” added Warnock.
“He deserves credit for his work-rate and his finish was great, but what really pleased me was his eagerness to score.
“I think that we’ve offered Fletch as good an offer as he’s going to get, wherever he goes.
“There has been an offer on the table for him, but I don’t think he wants to accept it at the moment. I don’t worry as if he goes I’ll replace him with someone better!”
PAUL Digby is closing in on a return to action, but is not expected to be available for Cambridge’s next couple of games.
The 25-year-old midfielder, who spent three weeks on the sidelines with a facial injury in October, has “a small problem with a tendon in his foot”, according to boss Mark Bonner.
Digby had missed five matches going into the clash with Port Vale, and the U’s boss said: “Paul’s still out running on the training ground, but he might not be ready for a little while yet.
“I wouldn’t expect to see him back in the next couple of games.”