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28 March 2024

Man Utd's Yaya Toure back: Fletcher

Darren Fletcher of Manchester United beats Artur of SL Benfica to score his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group C match at Old Trafford on November 22, 2011 in Manchester, England. (GETTY)

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By Staff

In 2009, Darren Fletcher was on fire. In the Champions League semifinal against Arsenal he dominated the midfield and overran the likes of Cesc Fabregas.

Then, a tragic red card, at least for United fans, a few minutes from the final whistle kept Fletcher out of the final.

It was a huge blow for Sir Alex Ferguson and United, who needed Fletcher’s dogged determination to breakdown Barcelona in the final.

United lost that Champions League final 2-0 to Barca and  Darren Fletcher missing was one of the key factors.

Fletcher has now fought back from the career-threatening illness that has sidelined him from first-team action since November last year and has been named in Manchester United's squad for their Champions League group stage campaign.

Is Fletcher the man to rescue United’s midfield that right now, looks as thin as ever?

Is Darren Fletcher the man to match Yaya Toure at City, Eden Hazard at Chelsea, Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla, Newcastle’s Hatem Ben Arfa and now Liverpool’s Nurin Sahin?

Because if he isn’t, United are in deep trouble.

Robin Van Persie is United’s scoring machine, but someone has to get the ball to him.

Carrick, Cleverley and Kagawa have struggled to do that.

Only Paul Scholes managed it.

Is Fletcher the ‘joker’ to Van Persie’s ‘batman’? The players that challenge and drive each other on?

Fletcher has played two games for United reserves recently and is due to train with Scotland this week ahead of their opening World Cup qualifiers. 

Ferguson said last week: “Darren comes into the 25-man squad quite easily. 

“He's training well every day and played really well the other night for the Under 21s.” 

Fletcher will see the likes of Nick Powell, signed from Crewe for £4million team, Shinji Kagawa and Alexander Buttner, the new crew, with him. 

But, none have his experience. 

Fergie has stayed away from plugging his midfield with a big-name buy simply because he believes in Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher. 

The time has come to for Fletcher to show he is the man.

 

 

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