Capital gains for Fletch

Timely return of Fergie’s big game hunterFor the ultimate ‘big game’ player it was a relatively low-key return. But for Darren Fletcher last night’s Capital One Cup third round tie with Newcastle was as momentous as any in his career. Starting a match for the first time since November 2011, it was an occasion that many feared would never come when it was revealed last year that he was battling to overcome ulcerative colitis. In his darkest moments, Fletcher too must have questioned if a career that has already defied the odds would come to a premature end. No matter then that he was playing in a competition Sir Alex Ferguson usually reserves for blooding his youngsters or stretching the legs of fringe players. And who cares if there were swathes of empty seats inside Old Trafford for a match that had clearly failed to capture the imagination of supporters. As far as Fletcher was concerned, last night was always going to be about much more than a game of football.