Steven Fletcher’s Sheffield Wednesday career took another hit against the Seagulls.
He was supposed to be the marquee signing that would fire Sheffield Wednesday back to the Premier League, but the Owls’ decision to sign Steven Fletcher last summer is looking increasingly ill-judged.
In 18 starts for Carlos Carvalhal’s side, Fletcher has scored just four times from open play, and while some would argue the Scotland international – who is in his first ever season below the top tier in any country – was never prolific, that only makes Wednesday’s offer of a four-year deal and reported highest-earner status seem even more bizarre. He’ll be 33 by the time that expires.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Steven Fletcher (left) challenges Leeds United’s Liam Cooper
With Sam Winnall arriving from Barnsley and Gary Hooper returning to fitness, Fletcher – who was hauled off at half-time of last weekend’s encounter with Huddersfield Town, after which Wednesday went on to score twice to win 2-0 – will have known he had to impress after coming on against Brighton on Friday.
Instead, a straight red card for a headbutt on Dale Stephens has left the former Sunderland man facing a battle to win back his place upon his return from a three-match suspension, and all but ended the Owls’ hopes of clawing back an equaliser against the Seagulls, who had re-taken the lead despite being down to 10 men themselves only moments earlier.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Steven Fletcher clashes with Brighton’s Dale Stephens before being sent off
This was the response on Twitter:
Where do you rank Fletcher among Wednesday’s current striking options?
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