While Celtic’s reported pursuit of Steven Fletcher has split one of Europe’s biggest fan bases down the middle, there is one man who would love to see the free agent pull on those iconic green and white Hoops.
While Fletcher may never have lived up to expectations as Scotland’s number nine, Gordon Strachan did at least manage to get a tune out of the former Hibernian man at international level – for a brief period at least.
In 2015 alone, Fletcher scored seven times in seven games for his country.
To put that into perspective, he managed just three more goals in his 26 other appearances with the red lion on his chest.
There was even a hat-trick against Gilbratar, Fletcher becoming the first Scotland player to score an international treble since Colin Stein in 1969.
“Steven is terrific to watch,” Strachan, Celtic manager from 2005 to 2009, told the Scotsman at the time.
“He is elegant, clever and he brings people into play. You can trust him when the ball goes up to him, so we can then get other players up beside him. All his game is needing is a goal.”
It just so happens that, in his advancing years, a man who once set Sunderland back a cool £13 million looks more lethal than ever before in front of goal.
In 27 Championship appearances last season, Fletcher found the net 13 times for Sheffield Wednesday – his most prolific campaign since 2007/08.
Strachan would be proud.
According to the Record, Celtic have now made contact as they look to beat a quartet of Championship clubs to the 33-year-old’s signature.
And if the Glasgow giants want a reference from his former boss, you’d imagine Strachan would be more than happy to sign Fletcher’s praises once again.
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