The Yorkshire Post report that Chesterfield have welcomed veteran midfielder John Fleck to their training ground as the 33-year-old seeks to stay fit after parting ways with Blackburn Rovers.
Fleck had a brief spell at Blackburn, joining the club on a short-term deal in January following his departure from Sheffield United. However, his time on the pitch was cut tragically short, lasting just 17 minutes in his debut match against Preston North End, where he sustained a significant injury to his shin. This injury required surgery and sidelined Fleck for the remainder of the season. Although Blackburn hinted at continued discussions with the player in their retained list, no further updates have emerged, leaving Fleck as a free agent.
It is understood that Fleck has now fully recovered and is currently training with Chesterfield, leading to speculation that the midfielder could soon be making a move to the League Two club. However, it remains unclear if this is purely a fitness exercise or if the Spireites are considering offering him a deal.
Fleck’s football journey has spanned nearly two decades, beginning with his emergence as a highly promising teenager at Rangers. At just 15, he became the club’s youngest debutant in many years, earning rave reviews and comparisons to Wayne Rooney. A year later, Fleck played in the Scottish Cup final, cementing his reputation as one of Scotland’s brightest young talents. Despite this early promise, first-team opportunities were limited at Rangers, prompting him to seek a new challenge in England.
That opportunity came in 2012 when he joined Coventry City, where he enjoyed a revitalised career. Fleck quickly became a key figure for the Sky Blues and was named the club’s Player of the Year in 2016. His consistent performances earned him a move to Sheffield United, where he experienced some of the best moments of his career. Fleck was instrumental in the Blades’ rise through the divisions, playing a vital role in their promotions to the Championship and then the Premier League. His time at Bramall Lane was capped by Sheffield United’s remarkable ninth-place finish in the Premier League in 2020.
Whether Fleck is merely keeping up his fitness or potentially signing for Chesterfield remains to be seen. However, fans at the Technique Stadium will be watching closely as they await further developments.
Our View
Should Chesterfield manage to secure Fleck’s signature, it would be a significant coup for the newly promoted League Two side. With his vast experience across top leagues in Scotland and England, Fleck could bring invaluable knowledge and composure to Paul Cook’s team. Having a player of Fleck’s calibre in their midfield could make a world of difference as they look to establish themselves in the division.
That said, Fleck’s current involvement with Chesterfield could simply be a way to regain fitness, but there’s no harm in hoping. Stockport’s recent signing of Oliver Norwood proves how valuable veteran players can be to lower league sides, and Chesterfield might just have a similar opportunity here. Whether he’s training or on the verge of a deal, it’s a situation worth keeping an eye on.
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