The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Fletcher reveals his dilemma over call-off
Striker still ‘passionate’ but feared aggravating knee injury
Steven Fletcher insists he retains his passion for playing for Scotland as he outlined his dilemma over missing their opening Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Fletcher asked to be left out of the squad for the games against Kazakhstan and San Marino in order to manage his fitness after establishing himself as a key player for new Sheffield Wednesday boss Steve Bruce.
The 31-year-old missed the final six months of last season with a knee injury but returned to the Scotland fold in style in November as he helped the team to consecutive wins over Albania and Israel to claim top spot in Nations League Group C1.
However, Fletcher sustained knee and ankle knocks earlier in March and was missing from the squad despite starting for Wednesday hours after Scotland manager Alex McLeish named his pool.
McLeish and assistant James McFadden both failed to persuade the former Hibernian striker to play and – in the end – Fletcher went off with a groin injury in a game against Blackburn 24 hours before the Scotland squad met up.
Fletcher said: “I am passionate about playing for my country and I made the decision with a very heavy heart.
“With the knee injury I had, it held me back for a long time and I couldn’t take a chance on aggravating it again. It would just put me back to square one again.
“I played for Wednesday against Blackburn and the knee was fine on the grass but I pulled my groin.
“I was initially really disappointed but now I’m more upbeat because I’ve looked after my body over the past few months and that can only help with my recovery.”
With Steven Naismith and Leigh Griffiths also unavailable, Fletcher’s absence was keenly felt as Scotland went down 3-0 in Kazakhstan last Thursday on the artificial surface at Astana Arena.
Swansea’s Oli McBurnie started in Fletcher’s place while Cardiff’s Callum Paterson returned up front for Sunday’s 2-0 win on the grass park of San Marino.
Former Scotland skipper Darren Fletcher criticised the players who missed the opening game because of the artificial surface – Paterson and Ryan Fraser also sat it out.
But Wednesday manager Bruce came to Fletcher’s defence.
“I feel for Steven because he has so much passion for Scotland and he was as desperate to play as always,” he said.