A brief 16-minute outing at Brighton marked the beginning of an extraordinary few weeks for Fletcher.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke was clearly impressed, inviting Fletcher to spend several days training at the team’s pre-World Cup camp. He is the son of former international midfielder Darren Fletcher and the twin brother of Jack, who currently represents England at youth level.
The invitation was followed by Fletcher’s senior international debut against Bolivia. After Billy Gilmour suffered an injury against the South American side and was ruled out of the competition, the 19-year-old was added to Clarke’s 26-player World Cup squad.
Despite not playing in the tournament, the experience proved extremely valuable. It showed Fletcher what he could work toward in the next stage of his career while introducing him to the standards needed to compete at the highest level.
Professional standards are unlikely to be a concern, as he has gained considerable guidance from his father. Fletcher is composed, unselfish and perceptive, qualities that complement his natural talent and should benefit him throughout his career.
While Lacey can produce flashes of brilliance, Fletcher’s strength lies in consistently executing the fundamentals. He understands the game, distributes the ball accurately and displays clear leadership qualities.
Jacob Devaney captained Manchester United’s Premier League 2 team last season before joining Scottish Premiership side St Mirren on loan. He is highly rated at Old Trafford and has also impressed during pre-season.
However, Fletcher has so far worn the captain’s armband for the academy-based side used during the second half of pre-season matches.
Although he was eligible for three weeks of rest following the World Cup, he resumed training after only two.
As with Lacey, Fletcher is likely to spend plenty of time around the senior squad in the coming weeks.
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