With Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers clearly on the hunt for a striker or two in the January transfer window following the sale of Moussa Dembele, Leigh Griffiths’ break from the game and the recent injury to Odsonne Edouard – should we turn our attention to Scottish international and Sheffield Wednesday striker Steven Fletcher?
Former Hibernian teammate and current BT Sport pundit Kevin Thomson seems to think so according to a recent interview he held with the broadcaster.
Who should Celtic sign as a backup to Odsonne Edouard?
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“Steven Fletcher could potentially be a name that excites Brendan Rodgers. I think he’s a top player, I think he will score goals. I think the way Celtic play as well with having the young legs in midfield now, he would certainly give that team a platform. He’s had a terrific career so I’m pretty sure Brendan will know quite a lot about Steven Fletcher.”
The 31-year-old seems to be over his injury problems at Hillsborough and with a rough one goal in every three games (starts) across his career, he knows where the back of the net is and should have plenty of years left in him yet.
2018/19 hasn’t seen a great return though as in 23 games including international action, he’s only found the net four times – but of course, his style of play lends himself to being the big man up front and bringing other people into play.
You can see where Thomson is coming from in what he might be able to bring to Parkhead, but with a reported wage of £26,000 a week in the English Championship, he would be an expensive option from our point of view even given the reported war chest Rodgers can lean on in the New Year.
The risk is, does the lack of a goal return show he’s coming back from injury and needs greater confidence or does it imply his better goalscoring days are over?