The 21-year-old featured for the West Ham reserves in the latest round of fixtures rather than Leeds United’s first team.
Instead of sampling the vociferous Elland Road atmosphere and honing his skills in the midst of a high-pressure promotion pursuit, Ashley Fletcher instead spent Monday afternoon leading the line amongst the sleet and the rain as West Ham’s Under-23s were swept aside by the youngsters of Brighton and Hove Albion.
The 21-year-old striker told Sky Sports earlier in the season that he took the unenviable decision to turning his back on boyhood club Manchester United because he felt he could progress his career with The Hammers.
Heading into March, however, while Fletcher has been a regular fixture in the reserves, he has started only two league games all season. This is hardly what he signed up for.
Therefore, you wonder if the former Barnsley loanee, who netted in last season’s League One Play-Off final, watched Leeds’ dramatic win against Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday with a pang of envy.
Competition: Win West Ham United documentary Iron Men on DVD
According to the Daily Mail, Fletcher was enticed by the prospect of moving to Elland Loan on loan in January despite his connections on t’other side of the Pennines.
The striker reportedly believed he would stand a much greater chance of regular game time in Leeds colours despite the effervescent form of loan striker Chris Wood in recent months.
Nonetheless, the hard-working England Under-20 international could have offered an excellent Plan B in a gruelling final two months of the campaign.
Instead, he has to contend with Monday, midday kick-offs in a team of hopeful teenagers.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
