Steven Fletcher’s Scotland career: the story so far

Published on 03/10/2012 00:00

STEVEN Fletcher’s return after a two-year international exile is a welcome boost to Scotland’s hopes of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, and the Tartan Army will be hoping he can show the same white-hot goalscoring form he has produced for Sunderland. Here is how he has fared in eight Scotland senior appearances so far – some of them as a sub – which have yielded one goal...

26 Mar, 2008 (friendly)
Scotland 1, Croatia 1
Only given a half on his full debut before making way for Kenny Miller.

11 Oct, 2008 (WC qualifier)
Scotland 0, Norway 0
Came on as a 56th-minute sub, but unable to break the deadlock at Hampden.

28 March, 2009 (WC qualifier)
Netherlands 3, Scotland 0
Fletcher sent on with just 19 minutes to go in place of Kenny Miller to chase a futile cause against the Dutch.

1 April, 2009 (WC qualifier)
Scotland 2, Iceland 1
With the Boozegate episode dominating this match, Fletcher is given his chance by George Burley and starts the game. He comes up trumps and scores a 65th-minute winner.

5 Sep, 2009 (WC qualifier)
Scotland 2, Macedonia 0
No goals, but a solid enough performance, before he is taken off for Shaun Maloney for the final 22 minutes.

10 Oct, 2009 (friendly)
Japan 2, Scotland 0
Fletcher came on for the second half in Yokohama for Lee Miller in an experimental Scotland side.

14 Nov, 2009 (friendly)
Wales 3, Scotland 0
A desperate day for Scotland in Cardiff as Burley’s reign came to an end. To be fair to Fletcher, he wasn’t one of the more culpable players, playing only 35 second-half minutes after coming on for Kenny Miller.

11 Aug, 2010 (friendly)
Sweden 3, Scotland 0
Fletcher’s one and only appearance to date under Craig Levein. Scotland were second best in the Rasunda Stadion, and Fletcher was taken off after 64 minutes for Kris Boyd.