Wednesday’s child full of woe no more as Fletcher thrives
THE gift of a rose gold Buddha charm from his new chairman did not instantly bring great fortune for Steven Fletcher. The first time he wore the offering, Sheffield Wednesday met with defeat. Insistence that Fletcher wore the squad No6 jersey, the bizarre shirt choice for a striker, has caused little harm as Wednesday remain on the heels of the promotion leaders ahead of today’s trip to Huddersfield.
Whether for good luck or improved karma, the effects of these intricacies might be best assessed in the longer term as the Scotland forward seeks to secure a return to the English top flight.
But if that is the extent of the meddling from the boardroom, then Fletcher will gladly accept.
And, if managerial stability is part of the package, the 29-year-old will happily adorn himself with any apparel of Thai owner Dejphon Chansiri’s choosing.
For the interventions from above at Fletcher’s previous club, he has no doubt, came at a cost for ambitions with Sunderland for four turbulent Premier League seasons where American owner Ellis Short didn’t let a manager stay for long.
Fletcher is settling into life in Sheffield under Carlos Carvalhal, enjoying the personal touch of the Portuguese coach so much that he is already wishing for the alliance to last for the length of contract he signed after rejecting a series of more exotic options.
He is scoring goals and reports himself happier than at any stage of his career both on and off the field. Certainly, the only time he can recall being in any better form at club football was right at the very start of his Stadium of Light career when the man who signed him for £12million, Martin O’Neill, played to his strengths.
Five goals in his first five Premier League games and a one-in-two scoring record by the time he had made his 16th appearance, Fletcher was justifying the fee and hopeful of establishing his club in the top flight following relegations with Burnley and Wolves.
In March of that season, Fletcher suffered an ankle injury playing for Scotland that would torment him for up to two years. A week later, O’Neill was sacked.
Fletcher admits his Sunderland career never truly recovered, explaining: ‘When I first went there, there were good players on the wing trying to make a name for themselves as well, like James McClean, and that kind of helped me.
‘I was on the end of a lot of crosses. I scored six goals early on and I think they thought: “Oh aye, who’s this we’ve signed?” But with the change of managers and all that stuff, it kind of hampered myself. I got injuries and I felt like I couldn’t get back to where I had been. I just couldn’t really get going.
‘I was really close to Martin. I got on really well with him. When there was just you and him he used to come over and sit down beside you and have a conversation. His praise helped you on the pitch.
‘It’s the same with this manager at Wednesday. He brought me in. I signed for four years and it would be nice if he stayed around for that.’
A loan spell at Marseille last season heightened Fletcher’s senses for travel and there were far flung offers — ‘I weighed a few random options up’ — but family ties were central to keeping he and wife Rachel in England. ‘My wife was pregnant and I didn’t think I should be jumping over to mad countries,’ he said. ‘We kind of thought it was time I had another challenge here.’ With the arrival of another child, Fletcher jokes he also has his hands full at work where Scotland room-mate Barry Bannan menaces.
‘He’s the loudest boy I’ve ever had as a teammate,’ says Fletcher. ‘If I don’t see him, I can hear him as soon as he comes in. He’s great, I love him. I’m about to have my third child. He’s like a fourth.’