STEVE Fletcher believes Brett Pitman’s all-round quality puts him among the League One elite and he insists: “There is more to him than just goals.”

The Cherries legend is convinced that his colleague is one of the third flight’s finest – and not just because of his prolific record.

In-form frontman Pitman has propelled Cherries into automatic promotion contention with 14 goals in 21 league appearances since rejoining the Dorset outfit from Bristol City.

Reunited with boss Eddie Howe, the 25-year-old has picked up where he left off in his first spell by rocketing to the top of Cherries’ scoring charts with strikes in each of the club’s four successive wins.

Fletcher says the Jerseyman has always been a master marksman – but now has the overall game to match his eye for goal.

Speaking ahead of today’s home clash with Scunthorpe (3pm), Fletcher told the Daily Echo: “He will always score goals. He scored goals as a teenager and got a ridiculous amount in one season for the youth team.

“He is a 15 to 20-goal man every single season. But there is more to Brett than just goals now.

“His work-rate, desire to help the team and his professionalism makes him an all-round better player.

“Brett is not just known now as a goalscorer. He has got a lot more to his game.

“He is good in the air as well and wins so many headers for his size.

“I think he has turned into an all-round top striker at this level. I think he has to be in that category of top strikers in the division. It is not just him, I would put Lewis Grabban and Matt Tubbs in there as well.

“If Brett had been here since the start of the season and in the form he is in now, I think he would probably have been fighting Matt Ritchie for League One player of the year.”

Fletcher formed a highly suc cessful partnership with Pitman during Cherries’ 2009 great escape season and subsequent promotion campaign. He reckons his colleague is now a better player.

“The obvious difference is that he has matured,” said Cherries’ record appearance-maker. “When you mature, you mature in all aspects of your game.

“I think Brett is more of a team player now than he ever was. He works really hard for the team and his work-rate of late has been second to none and that is what has probably impressed me the most.

“His professionalism and decision making has been different class recently.

“I told him after the Bury game that I thought he was magnificent – the way he led the line and chose the right option almost every time. I think that is the maturity side of him.”