The Sheffield Wednesday manager also provided updates on Sam Winnall, Fernando Forestieri and Gary Hooper.
Steve Bruce has hit out at Steven Fletcher’s critics as the Sheffield Wednesday striker battles to be fit for Saturday’s trip to Stoke City.
Fletcher’s decision to reject a Scotland call-up – which he later explained was due to injury concerns – was poorly received by some people north of the border, notably Chris Sutton.
The former Celtic striker told BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday that the 32-year-old “shouldn’t play again for Scotland”.
But speaking via Sheffield Wednesday’s official Facebook page on Friday morning, Bruce said of Fletcher: “Well, he’s still highly doubtful. Obviously, we’re going into Friday today and we’ll give him as long as possible.
“I’ve seen all this nonsense written about him and spoken about him which I think with anybody that would upset them.
“At the end of the day, he had to come off in the last game you know. So he was genuinely injured. With half an hour to go, we’re 1-0 up at the time and we had to take our centre-forward off. It wasn’t ideal.
“So I wish people would do their homework on him before writing these awful stories about him. But anyway, listen, he’s got a chance (of playing against Stoke), an outside chance, that goes for (Gary) Hooper, that goes for (Lucas) Joao, that goes for… who else is there? That goes for them.”
Another recently sidelined Sheffield Wednesday striker, Sam Winnall, started a senior game of football for the first time in over a year as the Owls beat Blackburn Rovers last time out.
And the Wednesday manager said: “Well, I thought the two cameo substitute roles (Winnall) did, he did exceptionally well. I thought last week it was a little step too far for him. And that’s what we have to guard against.
“But out of necessity, (Fernando) Forestieri was injured, Joao was injured, Hooper was still not quite right, so we started him. The more time he gets the better.”
Hooper was injured for even longer than Winnall, but Bruce revealed: “I think the big news for all the supporters is Hooper maybe now. Hooper has now played 45 minutes in the Under-23s two-and-a-half weeks ago, he played another 75 last week, so he’s now put a month together.
“Whether he’s right to start, I’m not sure about that, but we could be including him.”
And on Forestieri, who was found not guilty of racial harassment of a Mansfield Town player on Thursday, the 58-year-old said: “He was uncomfortable against Sheffield United. I think taking him off when we did at half-time probably helped. That was only 20-odd days ago.
“He’s trained all week. He’s put himself in contention for tomorrow.”
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