Date: 4th July 2016 at 11:30am
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Steven Fletcher joined Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer after being released by Sunderland just hours after the summer transfer window opened on July 1, 2016.

Signing a contract for four years, the 29-year-old will reportedly earn £35,000 per week.

Scotland international Fletcher has represented his country on 28 occasions, hitting the net eight times.

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Sheffield Wednesday’s new addition was loaned out to Ligue 1 outfit Marseille last season – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

The 6ft 1in striker signed for Sunderland from Wolverhampton Wanderers back in 2012 for a huge £12m. Fletcher ended his Black Cats reign with 23 league goals in 94 appearances.  

The former Hibernian youth player is a shrewd signing by Carlos Carvalhal and many Wednesdayites, including myself, claim Fletcher just may be the final piece of the Owls jigsaw?

Fletcher is expected to play up front with Gary Hooper next season, shifting Fernando Forestieri onto the left where the little Argentinian was most effective last term. Hooper will therefore feed off Fletcher whose hold up play and ability to flick on 50/50 aerial balls will see the Scot fit just nicely into the Wednesday line-up.

Fletcher’s arrival may see Atdhe Nuhiu’s game time considerably drop. The giant Austrian is expected to continue his role on the bench, or be used alternatively more often in cup competition.

Currently the Owls also have Lucas Joao, Caolan Lavery, Sergiu Bus and a promising George Hirst, who haven’t been mentioned, who can all play up top as well. Although some faces are expected to be shown the exit door, new recruits are still being linked with the Owls which will increase the competition in the starting XI even further.

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Fletcher has racked up 53 Premier League goals throughout his career – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Signing the experienced Fletcher on a free transfer was extremely good business by Chairman Dejphon Chansiri and manager Carvalhal. Not only does Fletcher have good heading ability, finishing, strength and aggression, the former Sunderland front man is the ‘right’ signing for Sheffield Wednesday.

Owl’s fans have been crying out for this type of player for too long. Although Fletcher has been no prolific goalscorer in recent years, I am sure he will get the best out of the rest on matchday.

Also by dropping down a division, there is no reason why the Scot can’t chip in with 15 league goals himself, as will Hooper and Forestieri.

Ultimately he is a fantastic signing who hopefully will be the Owls’ answer to seeking promotion to the Premier League.

WAWAW

 
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2 responses to “Steven Fletcher is a “fantastic” signing for Sheffield Wednesday”

  1. @Rastrentish says:

    I’m not sure that’s even his level, to be honest. From watching him for the last two years he belongs in League One. 35,000 per week is a lot of money for a striker with nine goals in fifty six appearances. He does not have that aerial ability you speak of, he isn’t strong enough to hold on to the ball or go past a player, he has a poor work rate and an ego the size of his Lamborghini.

    Whilst you certainly got a player of former pedigree, his best years are long gone. He has neither the legs nor the determination to make any serious impact on the rough and ready pitches of the Championship.

    That said, I do hope for your sake that I’m wrong, but I believe you’d be hard-pressed to find a Sunderland fan that disagrees.

    All the best!

  2. Simeon Dodd says:

    Lee Chapman was also a Sunderlanf failure, let’s hope Steven Fletcher comes good use like Leapy Lee Chapman