Fletcher's six goals in 10 Barclays Premier League matches this season, and five in his last six in particular, have ensured he is currently hot property. With the January transfer window looming, McCarthy is wary of the vultures who could look to prise away the 24-year-old Scotland international.
"He's a Premier League player scoring goals so he's going to get headlines. Players always do when they're scoring goals," McCarthy told the Express & Star.
Asked if he felt Fletcher would be a transfer target, McCarthy said: "No. If I say yes then I've suddenly put him up for sale haven't I? So, categorically, no.
"All Fletcher can do is play and score, for his career here and his Scotland career.
"He's still only a young man, so all he can do is keep playing well and scoring. It's a great feeling as a footballer to be playing well.
"He's a very good player, he's excellent. It's his all-round game, but as with all strikers it's his goals that top his performances off.
"And he wants to score. He loves scoring."
Source: PA
Source: PA