UNCERTAINTY about whether he could make an immediate impact was the reason why Celtic did not return for Steven Fletcher this summer, manager Tony Mowbray has revealed.
The Parkhead club's current requirement is for an experienced centre-forward who can fill the boots of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. Although Mowbray tried to buy Fletcher for West Bromwich Albion and also worked with him at Hibernian, he felt now was
too soon for the player to be burdened with such a responsibility.
Gordon Strachan, Mowbray's successor, had two bids for Fletcher turned down by Hibs last season and many were surprised when Celtic did not seek to capture the striker again this summer. Fletcher joined English Premier League side Burnley in a £3 million deal earlier this week instead.
"Steven Fletcher is a very talented individual," said Mowbray yesterday. "I just felt at the time that if I was going to spend the sort of money Steven is going to go for, then I needed an instant impact on the team. Is Steven Fletcher ready to come to Glasgow Celtic and be the main striker and bang in 25-30 goals?
"Maybe I am doing him a disservice as I have not seen him over the last two years. But my own view is that he probably needs another year or so before he is ready to do that."
Mowbray believes Marc-Antoine Fortune is a better bet to score the goals Celtic need. The 27-year-old, who Mowbray had on loan at West Bromwich Albion last season, is currently weighing up his options after a fee was agreed between the Parkhead club and Nancy.
Burnley manager Owen Coyle, though, was talking up his new recruit yesterday and says that Fletcher will go on to prove he is worth more than the record £3 million the Clarets paid Hibs to secure his services.
"Steven will show he is worth more than that kind of money. He is a young man, an international and a proven goalscorer," Coyle said at the striker's official unveiling.
"He leads the line well, he can drop short and can play off the shoulder. He has such a range of assets and attributes.
"Steven is a very accomplished player for someone of such a young age and I am delighted he is here. Whatever price has been paid, the player didn't pay it. They just have to go and show the ability that brought them to this club."
Fletcher believes the move to Turf Moor and the Barclays Premier League will boosts his chances of a regular starting slot for Scotland.
He said: "I have been around the squad for a while now and hopefully I can get a few more games under my belt. But first of all I have to perform for Burnley and score goals. If I do that I will be delighted.
"There is a bit of pressure with the price tag but I will take it as it comes. It is important to get a good pre-season under my belt first of all.
"As soon as I came to Burnley I knew this was the right move for me. Owen Coyle is very enthusiastic, he wants to play football the right way and there is a family feel about the place."
The full article contains 564 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
