What Sheffield United's John Fleck must do to grasp this huge opportunity

John Carver, Sheffield United’s former coach and one-time caretaker, was in exalted company on Friday night.
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To his left, as he watched Chris Wilder’s side face their namesakes from West Ham, sat England manager Gareth Southgate. Steve Clarke, who could yet steer Scotland into this summer’s European Championship, was sat to the right.

It would have been fascinating to eavesdrop on their conversation as the drama unfolded at Bramall Lane. Three wise men, with different agendas and different outlooks, picking apart a Premier League fixture which ended with United climbing to fifth in the table following a narrow but deserved win.

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With their goalkeeper Dean Henderson producing another mature performance, Southgate’s visit was not wasted. With Tom Heaton ruled-out for the season due to injury, a fine second-half save from Manuel Lanzini confirmed the 22-year-old, on loan from Manchester United, has both the personality and the powers of concentration to command a regular place in the Three Lions squad.

John Fleck, of Sheffield United and Scotland, is set to face Arsenal this weekend: James Wilson/SportimageJohn Fleck, of Sheffield United and Scotland, is set to face Arsenal this weekend: James Wilson/Sportimage
John Fleck, of Sheffield United and Scotland, is set to face Arsenal this weekend: James Wilson/Sportimage

But other than Carver, who probably departed armed with plenty of gossip about events at Wembley and Hampden Park, the greatest beneficiaries of United’s most recent outing were probably Clarke and John Fleck.

After ill-fortune befell his compatriot John McGinn, a giant hole exists within Scotland’s midfield. And, having delivered another tour-de-force display, Fleck reminded Clarke he is the most obvious choice to fill it.

After bizarrely being overlooked by one of his most recent predecessors - who seemed more concerned about height than footballing ability - Clarke has made Fleck a near permanent fixture in his plans since taking charge of the national team eight months ago.

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But the United player still boasts only two senior caps; a damning indictment, given his talents and Scotland’s travails of late, of selection policy across the border.

Scotland manager Steve Clarke: Tim Goode/PA Wire.Scotland manager Steve Clarke: Tim Goode/PA Wire.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke: Tim Goode/PA Wire.

With McGinn fracturing an ankle during Aston Villa’s defeat by Southampton midway through last month, Fleck now appears destined to win a third when Clarke’s side meet Israel in the Euro 2020 play-offs in March.

Signed from Coventry City three-and-a-half seasons ago, Wilder recently traced the midfielder’s journey from promising League One talent to accomplished top-flight performer. A tactical tweak, which has allowed him to operate further up the pitch, has seen Fleck improve his goals and assist ratios. But Wilder, whose side visit Arsenal this weekend, insisted the Glaswegian must take most of the credit.

“I always remember, when I first came in, we went away to La Manga for a training camp,” he said. “It was bloody boiling, John was with us and we watched this pale lad really struggling with the heat.

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“Then, scroll forward to last year, when it was the same in Portugal, the difference was huge.

England manager Gareth Southgate at Bramall Lane: Simon Bellis/SportimageEngland manager Gareth Southgate at Bramall Lane: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
England manager Gareth Southgate at Bramall Lane: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

“It’s not that John wasn’t fit to begin with, because he was. But it just goes to show how he’s developed and the work he’s put in.”

That improved conditioning has allowed Fleck’s talents and he enters United’s match at the Emirates Stadium as arguably their most consistent player of the campaign so far.

Forging and taking chances has been an issue for Scotland of late and so Clarke, from his vantage point in the directors’ box, will have been encouraged to watch Fleck provide the pass which allowed Oli McBurnie - another Scotland player - to score the only goal of last week’s contest.

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Fleck has never been prolific; finding the back of the net only 21 times since turning professional with Rangers. But 10 of those efforts have come for United and he travels to London knowing another, with 16 matches remaining, would see him set a new career personal best across the course of a single campaign.

“Flecky’s got a great shot on him,” Wilder has said. “So yes, definitely, he should be scoring more.”

At heart, however, Fleck still regards himself as a creator rather than a convertor of opportunities. Indeed, he once admitted to taking as much pleasure from providing an assist - something he has done 12 times since the beginning of last term - as he does putting the ball in the back of the net.

But if he is to retain a starting berth for Scotland once McGinn returns to fitness, Fleck must make his presence felt more in front of goal. The Villa man scored seven times during their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign. With Clarke’s men only on target only 16 times in total, the former Chelsea and St Mirren full-back can not afford to leave McGinn out of his eleven unless someone else fills the void.

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United, who slipped to sixth following the latest round of PL competition, will also benefit if Fleck can keep his returns in front of goal on an upward trajectory.

The trick will be to coax even more out of Fleck with overburdening him with responsibilities.

“I think that shows everything about John Fleck,” Wilder said, picking apart United’s meeting with West Ham. “In the first-half, we didn’t press enough. We probably wouldn’t have got to the press.

“But when we did, when he did, we forced a mistake (from David Martin) and took advantage.

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“To begin with, we didn’t gain enough momentum of pressure. But we did that much better after the break and got the reward.”

Despite being away from home, Wilder hopes United’s second-half performance against David Moyes’ side will set the tone for Saturday’s trip to north London.

Arsenal are 10th and four points worse off than Wilder’s newly promoted squad. But they have shown signs of improvement since losing 1-0 at Bramall Lane earlier this term, and replacing Unai Emery with Mikel Arteta.

The Basque has tasted defeat only once in five outings but he will be without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against United due to suspension.

“Everyone, ourselves as staff included, have got to keep trying to drive it forward,” Wilder said.