| By Sam Fox,
on 19-02-2006 16:47
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Darren Fletcher. Squad number: 24.
Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher (born February 1, 1984, Edinburgh, Scotland) is a young football player currently playing for Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson has frequently referred to Fletcher as "the future" of Manchester United, calling him a "talisman."
Fletcher joined Manchester United as a trainee in July 2000 and signed a professional contract in February 2001. He was an extremely highly rated prospect, initially seen as a right winger in the David Beckham mould. His first few seasons at the club were marred by injury, and he did not reach the first team as quickly as some had anticipated. Also, as he developed he came to be viewed more as a central midfielder.
Fletcher broke into the Manchester United team during the 2003-04 campaign, playing a number of important matches. He started in United's FA Cup Final win over Millwall in May 2004.
Despite a slow start to the 2004/05 campaign, in which in the early part of the season he made very few competitive appearances, Fletcher again broke into the United first team, finding the form he showed at the end of the previous season. On the 1st of January 2005 Fletcher scored his first goal at club level, (he had already scored twice for Scotland.) The goal was the opener in the Premiership match against Middlesbrough.
He has established himself as a regular pick for Scotland and scored a sensational goal against Lithuania having come off the bench for only his second cap. His goal took Scotland to the play-offs for Euro 2004. On May 26, 2004, he captained Scotland to a 1-0 friendly win against Estonia in Tallinn. This made him the youngest Scotland captain since John Lambie of Queens Park led the side that beat Ireland 7-2 on Saturday, March 20, 1886. Lambie was aged just 17 years and 92 days.
Fletcher's improvement for his national side was capped by an electrifying 25-meter strike in an October 2005 World Cup qualifier against Slovenia. With a deft flick and precise half-volley, he thundered the ball into the top corner of the net to give Scotland a 1-0 advantage.
Sometimes derided by United fans, Fletcher was one of the players singled out for harsh criticism by club captain Roy Keane in the wake of United's embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Middlesbrough in October 2005. Fletcher went some way towards answering his critics on 6 November 2005, with an impressive performance in the vital league match at home to Chelsea, punctuating his fine display with the only goal of the game, a looping header from a tight angle in the 31st minute. Fletcher's winning goal ended Chelsea's 40-match unbeaten run in the Premier League
Last update : 19-02-2006 16:47
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