Darren Fletcher - Scottish!
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SIR Alex Ferguson has heaped praise on Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher by describing him as "a terrific example to any young player". The 24-year-old may not have the high profile of the likes of team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez but his Manchester United manager has held him up as "a true professional". Fletcher has been in and out of the side this season such is the vast array of talent at Old Trafford. But he marked his return on Tuesday night with a sound, workmanlike performance in the engine room as United clinched a place in the quarter- finals of the Champions League. Ronaldo's 30th goal of a special season was enough to end Lyon's resistance as United won 1-0, to go through 2-1 on aggregate. While the Portugal winger is in a line for a number of top personal awards, Ferguson turned his focus to Fletcher. "Darren has shown he is a true professional," said Ferguson. "When you give people good contracts you hope they will become like that. "He is a terrific example of a professional to any young player. I keep talking about Bobby Charlton's book, and his frustration when he was not in the team at 19 and had to be patient. "Darren Fletcher epitomises that patience and now he's back in the squad and everyone recognises his abilities. It's a great credit to the lad." Fletcher was picked ahead of the veteran Paul Scholes and summer signing Owen Hargreaves – and after scoring twice in the FA Cup demolition of Arsenal he again rose to the challenge. Ferguson said: "It was a big decision for me (to pick him] because Paul Scholes had put in a vintage performance at Fulham (United won 3-0). "If the game had come a day later I would have played Scholes but decided not to, given the length of time he has been out injured, and his age. Darren came in and did a job very effectively. He's not an easy player to come up against – I wouldn't like to play against him. |
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