02-21-2008, 11:45 AM
|
#3 (permalink)
|
| Amateur
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norwich, "a fine city" .... full of inbreds!
Rating:
Posts: 430
| The rumourmill is still turning!
Quote:
STEVEN FLETCHER last night revealed he would put a place in Scotland's World Cup qualifying campaign before a big-money move to Real Madrid.
The 20-year-old Scotland Under-21 star has bagged four goals in two games since being linked with a £4million transfer to the Spanish giants.
But Fletcher says his priority is to continue his scoring streak to ensure new Scotland boss George Burley takes notice of him before next month's Hampden friendly against Croatia.
Fletcher's searing form has seen him already equal his best strike rate of 12 goals in a season.
And because of that form Real Madrid have put him on a list of promising young players to watch.
Despite the claims of Easter Road boss Mixu Paatelainen that Fletcher can one day reach such levels, the player himself believes the reports are "farfetched" and can't envisage a switch to the Bernabeu.
The Hibs youth product, who in December signed a new deal tying him to the club until 2013, made his 'B' debut last year. Now his sights are firmly set on breaking into Burley's full plans rather than thinking about the might of Madrid.
He said: "It's nice to be told they are watching but it's a long, long way from Hibs to Real Madrid. It's all a little bit too far-fetched for me.
"I think it's because I've done well for Scotland's Under-21s and that is perhaps how they have recognised me.
"You tell yourself you are good enough to go to places like that but I can't see it happening.
"But I would like to get into the full international squad.
Everyone wants to play for his country. I'm like everyone else, waiting and hoping for the call from the manager.
"To get that I need to keep playing well for Hibs, keep scoring goals and then time will tell."
Fletcher, who could have scored even more if he hadn't been out for more than a month with an ankle ligament injury, added: "My target at the start of the season was to better my goal tally and I've just equalled it.
"Normally you set a target of double figures. I've done that already so now it's a case of just scoring as many as possible."
| You don't turn down Real Madrid if they come calling but I think another season in Scotland then a couple in England would serve his career better.
__________________ There ARE two teams in Edinburgh, Hearts .......... and Hearts reserves!  |
| |