Steven Fletcher says Garry Monk is one of the best managers he has ever worked with.
Pressure had been growing on Monk, who despite a strong start to his time as Sheffield Wednesday boss had overseen just one league win in 11 attempts before last night’s victory over Charlton Athletic.
Much of that run coincided with Fletcher’s absence from the side due to injury.
But it was Wednesday’s top scorer who halted the slide, heading in his 13th of the season in stoppage time to snatch the three points.
Fletcher counts Martin O’Neill, Sam Allardyce and Dick Advocaat among his former managers.
But asked whether Monk has the backing of Wednesday’s players, the 33-year-old told BBC Radio Sheffield: “Definitely.
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“I’ve worked with a lot of managers over my time – I’ve seen a few off as well, which is not a good thing.
“But he’s one of the best managers I’ve worked with – and I’m not just saying that because he’s my manager now.
“Just the little details he works on I’ve never seen before in my career, it’s fantastic.
“And that’s why I spoke to the lads (before his return to the side against Birmingham City last week).
“I said, ‘listen, we’ve got a good thing here, we need to make sure we keep it.’ So, hopefully, we do.”
Fletcher is one of several Sheffield Wednesday players whose contracts expire at the end of this season.
But the Scot – who revealed that talks about a renewal have already begun – is looking forward to a fresh start at Hillsborough.
“Definitely (that is what is needed),” Fletcher added. “You need to remember the gaffer never had a pre-season with us. He came in late. It was hard for him.
“He came in on his own, as well. He’s not got any of the staff he’s worked with over a number of years.
“It’s a tough one for him. But he’s come in and he’s got a good group of boys, and he knows that, he can see that.
“But if he gets, obviously, a good pre-season with us then you never know what could happen.”
Speaking last week, Monk revealed he was blocked from bringing in his own personnel after he arrived at Wednesday in early September.
The 40-year-old would not go into detail as to why that was, but said the situation could change in the summer.