Wrexham may have signed two strikers in the January transfer window, but that hasn’t prevented Steven Fletcher from making a big impact.
Wrexham endured a tricky January, losing at the hands of Barnsley, Shrewsbury Town and Stevenage.
Phil Parkinson saw enough after that Stevenage defeat with clear changes taking place.
It’s telling that both Ollie Palmer and Paul Mullin have been frozen out of Wrexham’s League One action since that defeat.
Parkinson felt that it was time for a change in Wrexham’s attack and signed not one but two new strikers within days of the 3-2 loss.
Wrexham snapped up Sam Smith from Reading in a club-record deal before Jay Rodriguez said goodbye to Burnley in an emotional exit.
Steven Fletcher on Wrexham connection
Smith and Rodriguez have become Wrexham’s new first-choice strike force, with Steven Fletcher maintaining his role as the super-sub off the bench.
The veteran Scot has continued to make a big impact and scored the first goal in Wrexham’s 3-0 win over Burton Albion on Saturday.
Parkinson has hailed Fletcher for being ‘almost unplayable’ off the bench and League One defences have certainly found that to be true this season.
Now on eight League One goals this season despite starting just twice, Fletcher is proving to be a crucial factor in Wrexham’s promotion push.
Speaking to Wrexham’s official website, Fletcher has admitted that he intends to come back and cheer Wrexham on whenever the time comes for him to leave.
Fletcher noted that Wrexham will now have a special place in his heart, pointing to his great relationship with the fans.
Fletcher feels that Wrexham fans have been ‘great’ with him ever since he joined, admitting that he loves hearing fans chanting for him when he is on the bench.
“The Club will always have a place in my heart now, even in ten years time when I’m retired and on a golf course every day,” said Fletcher. “When the time does come for me to leave, I will be coming back on regular occasions. I actually want people just to remember me.
“If I leave here and the fans are still talking about you when you’ve left, I think you’ve done something right. If they want to come up and speak to you outside of football, you kind of feel like you’ve done something.
“I’ve got a good relationship with the fans. They’ve been great with me since I came. I try and do the same when I go onto the pitch.
“The fact that they sing your name, even when you’re sitting on the bench is a great feeling. I’ll always have a soft spot for this Club now,” he added.
Steven Fletcher could land new Wrexham deal
Wrexham are hoping to secure a place in the Championship with the end of the season now in sight.
Fletcher’s goals are proving vital, and that could lead to another contract extension.
The 38-year-old striker signed a new one-year deal last year, and his goals this season mean Wrexham could look to hand him another contract.
Fletcher has addressed his Wrexham future by suggesting that he isn’t looking to hang up his boots any time soon.
The ball will be in Phil Parkinson’s court on whether Fletcher deserves a new deal, but a longer stay is surely becoming more likely with each goal.