Fletcher delighted to silence his critics
Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher was delighted to take his anger out on Stoke City by marking his recall with a double on Saturday.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CXngYoTdXGV7ZBuWZiFQ5V.jpg)
The Scotland international was left out of Gus Poyet's squad for the Premier League clash with Tottenham last month, but returned to the starting line-up against Mark Hughes' side at the weekend.
Fletcher revealed he was furious at being overlooked by Poyet for the draw with Tottenham and was thrilled to prove a point by scoring his first goals this year in a 3-1 victory at the Stadium of Light.
He told the Echo: "Obviously you want to play every game.
"If you're not playing, you at least want to be on the bench.
"So I'm not going to say I was happy about it [being left out against Tottenham]. I was angry.
"But I think I’ve proven that I should have been somewhere near the squad, so hopefully that will continue.
"The manager wanted a reaction and he got a positive reaction, which was good."
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
The former Burnley and Wolves frontman admitted it was a relief to find the net after a long barren spell that saw him troubled by injuries.
“I was happy with the win and to get the goals as well was good," he added.
"It's been frustrating. Personally, I think I've been doing quite well in training, but when you're not in the squads and stuff, it’s frustrating.
"You get a bit of stick don't you? But I'm used to that now. I'm 27 years old, I've had stick all my life.
"If you don't score goals, you get stick. You’re not just going to take that.
"But I'm glad I've got off the mark. It’s been a long time coming with injuries and stuff."
![Arne Slot head coach of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield on December 01, 2024 in Liverpool, England.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3xTbkGtr7hRGpxxB4hofcg-840-80.jpg)
‘Slot hasn’t come in and changed everything, making it all about himself – it’s been about the players he’s inherited, getting the best out of a system he likes’: Liverpool manager impressing former players with personality and tactical approach
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrating after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on October 20, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Y6uSyarD69cTjYZM7M4Z33-840-80.jpg)
‘We thought we’d signed him, but Chelsea blew us away. I think they signed him so we couldn’t have him, as much as because they really wanted him’: Liverpool actually failed to sign Mohamed Salah in 2014, three years before finally getting the Egyptian