Fletcher To Train With Scotland

Darren Fletcher took a big step on the road to recovery after Scotland boss Craig Levein announced he will link up with the national squad.

The 28-year-old Manchester United man has been sidelined since a Champions League match against Benfica in late November with a chronic bowel problem.

There had been fears that the Scotland skipper may never play again as doctors initially struggled to identify the mystery illness that struck him down.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson caused more concern when he revealed in July that Fletcher was yet train with the rest of the squad.

But the midfielder has always maintained he would fight his way back to full fitness and has recently returned to training at the club's Carrington base where he has been put through his paces.

Now he has been handed a massive boost in his battle by being invited to get involved with the Scotland squad ahead of their friendly match against Australia on Wednesday 15th August.

"Darren will be with us at the weekend," said Levein. "He is back in training and he played 45 minutes in a practice match last week.

"He is not in the squad because he has not played for Manchester United but he will come back and do a bit of training with us."