DARREN FLETCHER

24. DARREN FLETCHER

Darren Fletcher was born on born on February 1, 1984 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Fletcher represented Scotland at youth and Under-21 level before making his full international debut in August 2003, appearing as a substitute in a friendly with Oslo in Norway.

Fletcher joined Manchester United as a trainee in July 2000, turning professional in February of the following year.

He made his first-team debut in the UEFA Champions League in March 2003 and made his second appearance for the club in the same competition, playing against RC Deportivo La Coruña two weeks later.

After impressing on the club's pre-season tour of America in summer 2003 – appearing as a substitute against Celtic FC, CF América and Juventus FC and starting against FC Barcelona – he was a regular in the side at the start of the 2003/04 campaign.

A creative central midfield player, he has represented Scotland at Under-15 and Under-16 level.Although a creative central midfield player, Darren

Fletcher made the breakthrough into the Manchester United FC first team on the right-hand side, and made an immediate impression for club and country.

Despite a slow start to the 2004/05 campaign, in which in the early part of the season, he made very few competitive appearances, it seems Fletcher is again breaking into the United first team, and 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, despite having scored twice for his national side. 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.