Ferguson Happy To See Fletcher Shake Off Critics

Sir Alex Ferguson is happy that his midfielder Darren Fletcher is finally getting the acclaim that the Manchester United manager feels he deserves. Fletcher has been with the Red Devils his entire career, but there were questions over his ability early on when he was a fringe player in Ferguson's squad. However, the Scot has since gone on to establish an excellent reputation among the United fans, and more than a few observers attributed the club's loss to Barcelona in the Champions League final to his absence. A similar assessment was made with regard to the performance put out by the Old Trafford outfit during their recent capitulation to Liverpool at Anfield. "Most people now recognise Darren Fletcher as a big-game player," Ferguson is quoted by the Press Association as saying. "We have been aware of that for quite a while. Now he is getting an acceptance that he is a very important player for us. "Our fans see that he is a key player in major games. That has been very important to the lad because it gives him a confidence. "He has been missed in some key games recently and yes, it is great to have the boy back."