Steven Fletcher thawing since coming in from cold

Steven Fletcher celebrates his only Scotland goal to date against Iceland at Hampden in 2009. Picture: SNS

When the fire alarm went off in Mar Hall, the squad’s base, one wag suggested Fletch himself might have broken the glass in a little red box in the hall, such might have been his reluctance to talk about that manager, that formation and the wilderness years.

Well, he turned up. He didn’t mention Craig Levein by name, or refer to 4-6-0, and neither did he presume that he would have been picked for every single one of those “lost” 16 games in any case. But he spoke about how tough it was to be on the outside, looking in on the international scene, and how delighted he was to be back.

“There was a time when I thought that I wouldn’t get another cap,” admitted the Sunderland forward, “but it’s great to be here and I’m very happy to be playing again.

“When I was watching Scotland on TV I wanted to be there but I was thinking that things were never going to get sorted. You never know, the manager [Levein] could have been around for ten years and maybe I wouldn’t have been picked.”

Fletcher, who’s hoping to win his 18th cap in Friday’s crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland, added: “It was a difficult time, as I think it would have been for any player. When things weren’t going well for them, I wanted to try and help. When they were going well, I wanted to be a part of it.”

Lest we forget, Fletcher and Levein had a Hampden-sized fall-out – old Hampden, that is – after the player wasn’t picked for that infamous night in Prague in 2010 when Scotland went without any strikers.

With the communication breakdown dragging on for almost two years, blame was thrown around.

Both men came in for criticism, although as Levein’s Scotland struggled, and Fletcher seemed to be what was missing from the team, the reputation of the classy, clever footballer who first shone at Hibernian was only enhanced through his absence from it.

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Not bad for a forward who’d only scored one international goal until that point, which remains his total. Fletcher said: “It did drag on for a long time and I got to the stage where I did think, ‘Right, this is never going to happen, I need to move on.’

“But we managed to sort it, fortunately, and I’m past all that now, back playing and enjoying it.”

Scholars of this silly and regrettable episode in the recent history of the national team recalled yesterday that it was on a famous day for Scottish sport – Andy Murray returning to Dunblane as the Wimbledon champion – when Fletcher indicated he’d like to return to the fold.

“I think it was a one-word tweet answering a question from a Scotland fan,” Fletcher smiled. The isolationism had been “hard” and a “learning curve”. “I’ve learned from it,” he added, “it’s made me a different person.”

He tried to ignore the sometimes feverish debate on the issue. “I just let people talk. I tried to do my talking on the pitch, which I’ve kind of done.”

And the big kiss-and-make-up with Levein? “I thought it was going to be worse than it was but it was fine. We both spoke honestly and there was no atmosphere. He said: ‘Do you want to come back?’ I said: ‘Yeah.’ And that was it.”

But you might have known there would be one last twist in the saga: Fletcher got injured jumping for the first ball in his comeback game against Wales and soon after that Levein would be gone.

Fletcher was a record buy for Burnley, a record buy for Wolverhampton Wanderers, and then Martin O’Neill splashed £12 million to take him to Sunderland when the Ireland manager was in charge at the Stadium of Light.

“I actually only worked with Martin, as in games played, for a few months before I got injured. But he was brilliant for me. The thing about Martin is that he gives you a lot of confidence.”

Now plotting to stop Fletcher on Friday, O’Neill first became aware of the player when both worked in Scotland. Fletcher remembered a volley he scored against Celtic in Glasgow in an exciting game which Hibs lost 3-2, and agreed it had been of one the best of his career.

He said: “I’ve got fond memories of playing at Celtic Park and scored a few there. Friday should be a great game in a great atmosphere.”

Up against him should be Wearside team-mate John O’Shea. “I’m good friends with Sheasy and we’re looking forward to a good battle. We’re always going at each other in training but he doesn’t kick me – can’t get near me, you see – although last week I had to tell him to stay away from my ankles.”

O’Shea won his 100th cap in Germany in the Republic’s last match and scored the crucial late equaliser. “That was a bit of a sickener for us,” said Fletcher. “I congratulated him through gritted teeth.”

Fletcher is 27 and entering his peak years – although with all he’s been through, he jokes that he sometimes feels 37. He’s enjoying his international football under Gordon Strachan and senses a different atmosphere now.

He said: “Definitely, we’re like a club team. Some international sides aren’t like that, they’re more a collection of individuals, but ours is a great bunch of lads.”

So what does representing Scotland mean to him? “A lot. I’ve matured since I’ve been away and not playing for a while I’ve realised it’s a massive thing to play for your country, a real achievement.”

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