JC fears risk to stretched Fletch

JOHN COLLINS again raised his concerns today over the risk of Hibs striker Steven Fletcher suffering from "burn-out" after the Easter Road star was pencilled in for two international matches in the space of four days.

Fletcher is set to start tomorrow's European Under-21 Championship qualifying match in Slovenia but will immediately report for duty on his return with Alex McLeish's B squad for a challenge game against the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday. No other player has been asked to do so and today Hibs boss Collins insisted it should have been a case of "one or the other" for the 20-year-old, who has hardly had a break from football over the past 30 months.

Collins has repeatedly voiced his fears for Fletcher, who spent the summer of 2006 playing in the under-19 European Championships in Poland and July of this year turning out in all three of Scotland's matches in the under-20 World Cup in Canada.

On top of that, Fletcher played 43 matches for Hibs last season plus various preparatory games for the World Cup, including flying to the west coast of Canada in March to face the host nation twice, which led Collins to question the wisdom of such a gruelling trip.

As a result, Collins stated his intention to protect Fletcher at the beginning of this season, using the youngster sparingly in the opening matches. Fletcher, however, has become a key member of Collins' side and with seven goals is Hibs' top scorer.

But, since the season started, Fletcher has also been a constant member of Scotland's under-21 side, playing against the Czech Republic, Denmark and Lithuania with only an injury preventing him travelling to face the Netherlands last month.

However, Scotland under-21 coach Maurice Malpas has made it clear he intends to use Fletcher in a three-pronged attack in Slovenia tomorrow as the young Scots battle to keep their Euro hopes alive.

Fletcher will then return to prepare for Tuesday night's B friendly at Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium at a time when Collins feels he would be better resting ahead of Hibs' crunch SPL clash with Dundee United next weekend.

He said: "To be honest, Steven needs a rest. Having been at the World Cup he's hardly had a break and, to me, to put him in one squad or the other rather than both would be more sensible.

"There's no doubt he risks burn-out. We try to protect him as much as possible but Scotland seem to be using him at every opportunity.

"It is something of a double-edged sword. It's great Steven is being recognised and is stepping up through the various levels of international football with his aim being of playing for the full squad one day. But, on the other hand, he needs a break like everyone else.

"He played through the summer and the summer of last year and he could have done with a few days off."