STEVEN FLETCHER was over the moon to score his fourth career hat-trick in Wrexham's 4-1 win against League Two promotion rivals Barrow at The Racecourse on New Year's Day.
The 36-year-old, a former Scotland international who played for Hibernian, Burnley, Wolves, Sunderland, Marseille, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke and Dundee United before joining the Reds in September, missed two months after undergoing knee surgery.
A substitute in the previous three games over the festive period, Fletcher was back in the starting line-up for the visit of Barrow and took his tally to five goals for Wrexham with his treble.
"It was brilliant, a long time coming," said Fletcher, who bagged his first treble for Wrexham.
"It was frustrating with the injury because I was just starting to find my feet here, coming on as a substitute and getting a few goals.
"The surgery knocked me back a little bit but I have been working hard with the physios who have been brilliant with me.
"I came on in a few games recently and got my first start against Barrow.
"I thought my legs were on back to front in the first 20 minutes, I was struggling a little bit, but slowly started getting into the game.
"I got the first goal and you get another lease of life when you get a goal, a buzz about it, and then I got my second after that.
"At half-time I thought 'I just need one more chance and hopefully I get the hat-trick'.
"To score any goal is good but to get a hat-trick is great."
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