Former Sheffield Wednesday striker, Steven Fletcher, explains decision after joining Stoke City
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‘Fletch’ rejected a new contract at Hillsborough earlier in the year as he left before the 2019/20 season had come to an end, and despite being heavily linked with a return to Scotland with Celtic, he’s put pen to paper with another club in the Championship.
The 33-year-old Scotland international scored 13 goals for Wednesday last time out, and his new manager, Michael O’Neill, spoke highly of the forward, referencing the Owls’ drop in form following his injury.
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Hide AdSpeaking to the club’s official website, O'Neill said: "I've known Steven for a long time, since he first broke into the team at Hibernian. He's a player I've always liked; I've watched his career with interest and wherever he has been he has done well and scored goals.
"I know how important he was to Sheffield Wednesday last season and it's no coincidence that they had a difficult second half of the season when injury took Steven out of the team so I think it's a really positive signing for us."
Meanwhile, the player himself said that it was a meeting with the manager that convinced him to join, saying in his first interview with the club, “I’m absolutely delighted, it’s the next in my career and it’s a massive club to come and play for. So I’m very happy.
“I spoke to the manager about a month ago or something, and it was a good conversation. I say down with him and had a convo, and after that I think I knew that I’d really love to work with him.
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Hide Ad“The way he sees this club and where he wants it to be was one of the main points that I took from that. When I left that meeting on the way home I thought he’d be a really good manager to work with. And I’ve got that chance now.”
Fletcher’s Hillsborough return next season could now be an interesting one, especially if fans are back in the stands by the time it rolls around.