Fletcher will grow into a top player, says Caldwell

Published on Friday 5 December 2008 09:31

CELTIC defender Gary Caldwell expects former Hibernian team-mate Steven Fletcher to hit the big time once he fully develops his physical presence.

Fletcher, 21, has already been watched by Real Madrid and linked with a January transfer.

Caldwell has noticed an improvement in Fletcher's physical prowess since his days at Hibs and is anticipating a tough test when they face each other in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Sunday.

"When I was there, he was just breaking into the first-team squad," said Caldwell, who moved from Easter Road to the east end of Glasgow in 2006. "But he always showed he had the talent to play at the highest level.

"He has gone on to prove that and I'm sure he will get better still and go on to play for a really big club in the future.

"I think he is (getting more physical). When he was younger, he was always lacking a bit of physical presence for a striker but he had the talent to score goals.

"I think when he gets older and when he gets more and more physical, he will become a better player. But he is a handful at the minute and we'll have to be on our guard."

Caldwell will face another former team-mate, Derek Riordan, and he admits the forward line is among the most difficult Celtic will tackle.

The last time the two teams met, Fletcher and Riordan were joined by Colin Nish, and Celtic were pushed all the way in a 4-2 win.

"In the game at Parkhead they played three up front and left them up there for pretty much all the game, and kept our back four under pressure for the whole game," the centre-half said.

"They scored two good goals and it was a tough match for us. We have to be at our best if we want to stop them, but likewise we have players who can hurt Hibs.

"It's up to us to get them the ball and let them do the damage."