Fletcher: Loan Made Me A Better Striker

Kicking off a five-part series of exclusive interviews with some of Manchester United's young stars hoping for a big 2016/17, we focus on a man who scored in two Wembley finals last season...

After watching at first hand how Ashley Fletcher trained with his new Barnsley colleagues in March, it was clear to see how well he was fitting in.

There were the usual jokes and banter around the training pitch close to Oakwell and it looked a happy camp under Paul Heckingbottom, a former United youth-teamer who moved up to become manager when Lee Johnson left for Bristol City. Fletcher certainly looked sharp, finishing chances with his head and both feet during a small-scale game, but he would have to work hard to convince the Barnsley boss he was worthy of becoming a regular starter during his loan spell.

He had made an instantly favourable impression by scoring on his debut in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy win over Fleetwood Town, but every loanee faces a battle to obtain a place ahead of more established performers. "I couldn't have written it better really," Fletcher admitted of his start. "I was really happy to get off the mark in my first game."

At the time of our chat, Fletcher had also just bagged a derby winner against Doncaster Rovers - "a striker's goal, a poacher's goal. My food and drink really." But the main thrust of the conversation centred around what could be achieved - by Barnsley and Fletcher as an individual, developing his talents and learning how to handle league football in his first stint away from the club he joined as a schoolboy.

The Tykes' form was impressive and the prospect of a trip to Wembley in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final loomed large on the horizon. Fletcher's only previous visit to the stadium came as a young fan of Bolton Wanderers back in 2011 and ended in complete disappointment as the Trotters were hammered 5-0 by Stoke City in the FA Cup semi-final. He was determined there would be more enjoyment this time around.

"It's something we need to savour and enjoy," he demanded - and everybody of a Barnsley persuasion certainly did that as Oxford United were beaten 3-2 in a thrilling final. United's young striker scored one of the goals and said afterwards: "I visualised it in bed all last night. Me scoring at Wembley - it's a dream." The League One side won the competition for the first time in their history but the bigger picture for the club was getting out of the division with a play-off spot a possibility, despite the fact they had been bottom of the table in December.

Would a second outing at Wembley be greedy for a 20-year-old new to league football? "When I came here, obviously I wanted to get as many games as possible and gain experience but I also had that carrot of Wembley dangled as well," he conceded, but it was always going to be a long shot to clinch a repeat visit. "We’re aiming to get as high as possible but we’ll take it game by game and see where we finish but there’s no real pressure on us in the league," the centre-forward said. "We’re outsiders and I think that will work in our favour."

There was no guarantee Heckingbottom's team would even make the play-offs after a late capitulation against 10-man Colchester United in the penultimate game of the regular season. Fletcher scored twice but Tom Lapslie's dramatic 98th-minute header earned the already-relegated Essex side a point - even though they ended with an outfield player in goal.

It left Barnsley facing a daunting last-day match at champions-elect Wigan Athletic but a surprisingly comfortable 4-1 win at the leaders edged Scunthorpe United out of sixth spot on goal difference.

Walsall may have finished 10 points clear of the Yorkshiremen in third place but they were despatched 3-0 at Oakwell in the first leg of the semi-final before a 6-1 aggregate triumph was secured with Fletcher again on the scoresheet in the return match in the Midlands.

In the final itself, Barnsley found Millwall standing in the way of a place in the Championship. Only 88 seconds were on the clock when the on-loan United striker showed his class with a fine goal and a 3-1 victory rubber-stamped one of the most successful temporary spells for any Red over the years. If the challenge is to prove your worth away from Old Trafford, this was definitely the case for a youngster still very much learning his trade.

"I’d say one of the main reasons why I came was just to learn a different type of game when you're playing against physical centre-halves," Fletcher told us. "You have to deal with that instead of the Under-21s, when the football is based more on possession. I know it’s something I needed to do and felt I could do it.

"I’ve learned to be a lot cuter in my play. Although it is more physical, if you give away fouls it is worse than conceding a free-kick in the Under-21s because the ball transitions so much. So I think, obviously, I let the defender know I’m there but, at the same time, I’m not fouling him. I’ve got to work on that and keep working hard but I think I’ve got a better understanding of it now."

Watching Marcus Rashford take his opportunity due to injuries in attack at his parent club must have been frustrating but Fletcher had his own goals to achieve. There was certainly no element of bitterness in his appraisal of his younger colleague and the two were together in the England Under-20 squad for a match against Canada.

"It’s just one of those things in football, it is a difficult game," he said of seeing opportunities open up in his absence. "It is unfortunate for me I left but, at the same time, it’s beneficial for my career to be here and hopefully, when I go back, I’ll get my chance in the future.

"I tip my hat to Marcus because he’s done really well and got his rewards. I’ve been playing with him since he was young, in the Under-18s and Under-21s and he’s a really good talent. He’s getting what he deserves."

Fletcher is a very different type of striker to Rashford. He acknowledged in a separate interview I conducted with him in September that there does seem to be a shortage of archetypal centre-forwards in the game. "I was looking in the recent window and there are not a lot of strikers available at the moment," he said. "I think it is something that clubs are looking for, someone who can score goals."

A record of eight goals in 16 starts is an impressive tally, aside from Barnsley's achievements on a whole and his key role in that success. With that under his belt, his aim to return to United a better player appears fulfilled. This was his mantra; he mentioned it as his primary objective three times during our Oakwell discussion. "That's the ultimate goal - playing for Manchester United."

Ashley Fletcher is an absolute credit to the club's Academy - articulate, polite, friendly and focused off the field, he has achieved exactly what he was mapping out back in March. Whatever the future holds for him, he will be determined to ensure 2016/17 is a big season in his burgeoning career.

Credit: Manutd.com