Darren Fletcher has been out for nine months with a serious bowel condition and as he now aims to get back to full fitness, we ask what now for the midfielder?
On Tuesday night, Darren Fletcher made his long awaited return for Manchester United as he played the last half an hour as captain as the Red Devils lost 2-1 to Aberdeen in a benefit match for Don Simpson at Pittodrie Stadium. Fletcher had been out for nine months with a serious bowel condition and as he now aims to get back to full fitness, we ask what now for the midfielder?
Many thought Fletcher’s career was over when his condition was diagnosed back in November of last year and the midfielder has done unbelievably well to get back playing again. His manager, Sir Alex Ferguson has described his road to recovery as “quiet progress” and has said that he will not be rushing him back into competitive action and playing for the first team.
So far, Fletcher has shown great determination to get back on the pitch and after joining his team-mates in training two weeks ago, he felt he was in need of some game time. Sir Alex advised him to join his squad in Aberdeen and promised him at least 20-25 minutes. The Scotland captain has now met up and trained with the Scotland squad as they prepare for tonight’s friendly match against Australia at Easter Road and although he will not feature in the game, it is still an important step.
With Fergie not wanting to rush back Fletcher back for last season’s runners-up in the Premier League, what are the options? With Premier League teams now having to submit a 25-man squad at the beginning of the season, it could be an idea for Manchester United not to name Fletcher in theirs but to use him in only cup games and the Champions League. This will take some of the pressure off of the other midfielders in the squad and give them a rest whilst Fletcher will be fresh legged and much less likely to face burn-out as he returns from a difficult time on the sidelines.
However, keeping him and failing to name him in the squad could backfire if United suffer an injury crisis and Fletcher shows in his cup appearances that he is very much back in full health and form.
Another possibility is a loan move for the midfielder. Whilst United wouldn’t want to loan him to another top club in the Premier League, there are plenty of other clubs where Fletcher could get back into the swing of things. Take Everton for example, they’re in need of strengthening their midfield after the sales of Tim Cahill and Jack Rodwell and the two clubs aren’t exactly strangers when it comes to transfer dealing – Phil Neville, Tim Howard, Louis Saha and Darron Gibson have all swapped Old Trafford for Goodison Park in recent seasons whilst Wayne Rooney went the other way.
Fulham could also be a destination for Fletcher to go and grab some first-team football. Manchester United have been reportedly showing an interest in the West London club’s attacking midfielder Moussa Dembele so maybe the Scot could be used as bait in some sort of deal for the Belgian.
Don’t rule out Scottish champions Celtic making a loan offer for Fletcher either – although the SPL will be even less competitive this season without Rangers, the United man is a Celtic fan so it could be a move that would interest Fletcher.
Will Fletcher start the season for Manchester United? And in what capacity? What do you think?
image: © apasciuto
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