by Michael Sawh

Created on: December 14, 2009

"I can't understand why people in Scotland rave about Darren Fletcher". Those were the scathing words of a man only too willing to criticize his teammates, even while nursing an injury up in a television studio. Roy Keane famously questioned the new generation of Manchester United youngsters, circling a young wily Scotsman as a particular focus for his distaste.

But while an under-pressure Irishman strives to pull Ipswich Town out of the mire that is the bottom of the Championship, the once unworthy Fletcher is certifying his place not just as a leading Manchester United midfielder, but one of the most valuable central midfielders in the game. It's been a rocky ride to becoming the unlikely heartbeat of the Premier League champions, but Darren Fletcher has done just that, and as Ferguson as reiterated so many times before, he is now the man that makes United’s midfield tick.

Born on 1st February 1984, Darren Barr Fletcher’s professional footballer began to take shape when he was spotted by Manchester United scout Andy Perry turning out for Edinburgh side Hutchinson Vale. Invited down to the club, Fletcher clearly made a good impression on Ferguson and was offered trials at the Greater Manchester club. Proof of Fletcher’s pedigree was evident from featuring on the books of both Celtic and Glasgow Rangers. But it was clearly the draw of the newly crowned treble champions that persuaded Fletcher to join United as a trainee in 2000. The tenacious, committed nature of the midfielder clearly shone through as he signed his first professional contract on his 17th birthday in 2001, where he would work his way through the youth and reserve teams before getting his break in the senior setup.

Fletcher had the pleasurable honour of making his senior debut in the Champions League. In the spectacular surroundings of the Theatre of Dreams, Fletcher aged just 19 started the dead rubber 2002-03 Champions League second group phase match helping United to a draw against Swiss side Basel. Fletcher went on to make just one more appearance in the Champions League to show for his first season as part of the first team as United went on to win their eighth Premier League title, while exiting the Champions League at the quarter-finals stage.

It was the 2003-04 season that Fletcher’s presence in the first team was beginning to be felt having notched up 35 appearances.  David Beckham had departed for Real Madrid with Fletcher helping to accommodate the void

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