Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has revealed that Old Trafford starlet Darren Fletcher was almost signed by Newcastle United. The youngster had been on the Old Trafford books for five years when he reached school-leaving age and Sir Bobby Robson stepped in and came close to taking the Scottish youngster to Tyneside.
“We had had him here since he was an 11-year-old but when he reached 15, everybody was after him,” said Ferguson. “He was in the Scottish schoolboys team and we thought we had lost him because Liverpool and Newcastle came in. He had almost agreed to join Newcastle but I got him down to Manchester with his father and he signed for us.”
The Edinburgh 19-year-old impressed in his senior debut last week when he played at Old Trafford in the Champions League game against FC Basle and the United boss has pledged to give Fletcher more run-outs before the end of the season. “I think he could play in the first team now. He has been in the reserves on and off for about two months but he is ready,” added Ferguson. “His best position is centre-midfield but he can also play wide. He has a good engine and he is doing all right. I thought he did well on Wednesday but he just needs the strength and once he stops growing then his physique will get better.”
Filed by James Boylan.
