The 27-year-old midfielder’s virus torment is at an end after his 90-minute outing against Arsenal at Barnet’s Underhill Stadium.
Reserve team boss Warren Joyce told M.E.N Sport after the match: “The manager and Darren will be delighted that he got a very good work-out in a very tough game.
“There was a lot of running and chasing to be done and it was a tremendous effort by him. As long as there is no reaction then he’ll probably be training for the rest of the week and the manager will see how he goes from there.
“It is his first match and he’s still in pre-season really. He’ll build up from this and hopefully go from strength to strength. But he’s come through a hard 90 minutes unscathed and that’s good for Darren’s health and good news for the club.”
Fletcher’s virus first struck as long ago as last March. Following his sub appearance at Anfield against Liverpool the debilitating illness laid him low and he missed 12 matches in spring.
The Scottish international made a sub appearance against Schalke at Old Trafford in the Champions League semi-final and then played his last full match in the final home league match against Blackpool before being an unused sub in the Champions League Final against Barcelona.
Fletcher signed off for his holidays and it looked like his problems were behind him.
But the virus refused to go away completely and Fletcher was absent when United returned for pre-season training at the beginning of last month.
Having lost a lot of weight during the illness, Sir Alex Ferguson and his medical staff deemed he wasn’t fit enough to go on the tour of America and put him on a personal gym training programme.
Last night in London he finally got back into action. It was a trademark hard-working stint from the Scot who looked physically strong again.
Fletcher was culpable for Arsenal’s opener in the Gunners’ 2-1 win in the Reds reserves first outing of the campaign – but nonetheless will have buoyed United boss Fergie with his overall work rate.
It could put him in contention for a place in the squad for next Monday night’s Old Trafford Premier League match against Tottenham but another reserve stint could be on the cards.
Fletcher was joined at Barnet by fellow senior squad members Tomas Kuszczak, Darron Gibson and United’s goalscorer Mame Biram Diouf.
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Good news!
We need a fresh Fletch in midfield.
Tomas Kuszczak, Darron Gibson and Mame Biram Diouf. Thought they would of been sold this summer
Fletcher was culpable for Arsenal’s opener in the Gunners’ 2-1 win in the Reds reserves first outing of the campaign – but nonetheless will have buoyed United boss Fergie with his overall work rate
Nothing changed it takes a long time to get over the headless chicken to talent virus
Great news to hear you are on your way back.
Take care
Franca x
If he stays fit then he is a major force in the midfield in this United side. He is not much of playmaker, but sure as hell that he will torture the other teams playmakers. His abundant energy and clever play, I think is just what we need.
Very pleased to see him back...
Will be good to have him back if he can recover from this virus he has had, he adds a bit of bite in midfield, still puzzled we have not strengthened in midfield and think it might come back to haunt us.
Carrick is going nowhere fast, Anderson cannot get a pattern of consistency and looks unfit, Fletcher hopefully will be back to full fitness and Pogba/Cleverley are unproven in CL/PL at this level.
I hope Anderson gets fit and consistent and Fletch comes back strong and I hope Pogba/Cleverley can operate against top PL/CL opponents but there are too many questions hanging over midfield to be confident about this area, lets hope it works out
Didnt mention Carrick as the manager said on Friday that he comes good Nov/Dec so thats 2-3 months away yet. I really think we are top class in all other areas so lets hope for a great season ahead, wont mention the "S" person but would have loved to see a player of that ability in our midfield
Fletcher was one of the better players last night and looked composed on the ball. Gibson on the other hand looked like he would rather be anywhere else and was very disappointing - especially as his inclusion meant Pogba was shifted to the right wing where he wasn't able to exert a lot of influence, despite his best efforts (was one of the better players last night).
United had a lot of the play and it was a bit surpising they lost, but Fryers and Keane looked like weak links on the left side and were targeted by Arsenal. Very little quality at the back in our reserve set-up which also makes me surprised why we haven't bought more cover at full-back.
Great news for Darren. He played the first half as a defensive midfielder in a 4-1-4-1 formation and that might be a clue to how the first team play with the experienced defenders out. He did OK there but you could see he was a bit rusty.
The problem for Joyce is the huge number of central midfielders he had to select from. As well as Fletcher, he had Gibson, Norwood, Drinkwater, Pogba and Cole starting and Petrucci and Lingard came on as subs. Morrison wasn't even on the bench and, of course, Tunnicliffe is out on loan. If only he had as many defenders.
Diouf looked good and took his goal well but he was a bit isolated up on his own. He had to come off later in the game when he tweaked something.
Second half Fletcher played further forward and did a lot more running and looked to be quite fit for someone who has been out so long. I was a little surprised that he stayed on for the full 90 minutes but he'll benefit from that and could be in contention for the weekend, although it's an outside bet with all of our other central midfielders fit. I'd say he'd be nailed on for the Arsenal game though.
Hurry up back...wonderkid SNARF SNARF
Nited fans, idiots or morons? Discuss.
any news about valencia.pls.j.mifsud.siggiewi.malta.
Is Darren Fletcher back to 100% ? His service is badly in need this season. What exactly was this virus?? Why keeping it under such secrecy, it's like a mystery. Maybe it's will be better to share some light into what happened to him so people can be more understanding. By looking those recent photographs taken, he is defo not his old self at all.
it will be good to have him back in contention because we are short of options in central midfield.
Watched the game sorry to say D F doesn't look well at all, struggled to contribute, was at fault with the first goal gave the ball away! and he was muscled out of the ball for Arsenal to score the second thats certainly not D F as we all know! sorry to say the lad was way off the pace and didnt look anywhere near fit & ready for the first team duty. Think SAF should send him away on holiday to fully recover his health. As for Darron Gibson he just wasnt interested went on walk about for most of the game and didnt contribute a jot! Best players in the pitch Pogba & Danny Drinkwater and young Cole tried his best playing out of position. Can any one tell me why all the players who didnt play on Sunday were not playing for the reserves would have thought that would have given them a better level of fitness or is it they dont like playing for the reserves?
Fletcher is a great player who i think is grossly under-rated by our some fanbase likely because hes not Spanish or South American...
PL Team of the Year 2009-2010 if he gets full fitness and form back he will be in for a shout this year as well.
Keep going Fletch!
Great news, though it'll probably be a while before he is 100 per cent, given the all-action game he normally plays. Still believe we need to strengthen in midfield though.
A player slated by the Plasma arm chair fans a few seasons back now you cant wait for him to come back. Joke club
Perfect foil for tiny Cleverley
Great news on Fletcher, hopefully he'll be back soon.
Am I the only one getting bored of danny's obsession with Nasri who I will add is NOT world class and not good enough for MANCHESTER UNITED.
We dont need Sneijder, Nasri or anyone else with young footballing superstar Tom Cleverley coming into the squad and Paul Pogba also being lined up by Fergie for first team football this season.
Truly is wonderful supporting the worlds greatest football club.
Things don't look so 'Rosy' at 'Swamplands' when the return of Fletcher is greeted like the '2nd coming'.
Going by his performance yesterday I'm not convinced Fletcher will ever again command a regular place in the first eleven. Not at OT any way. Even this is generous. Fitness aside, you could barely notice that he was such a vastly experienced player. In fact anyone could be forgiven to have mistaken Pobga's intelligence and maturity play for the Scot's. Never mind that he "was culpable for Arsenal’s opener", him and Gibson... goodness me. But the quick development of Pobga means that the Scot's ranking, let alone that of the Irishman, isn't too far from the Frenchman's.
Yawn !
CLEAR THE DECK'S FOR ACTION BECAUSE FLETCH, YES THAT ONE.... IS BACK!!..P.S...IS HE STILL THE NEW ROY KEANE..?
Sad bitters GET A LIFE
Is it any wonder your wifes run off with us reds SAD SAD BLUES if you wasnt so BITTER they might stick around RED ARMY RED ARMY