Fergie confirms Fletcher start

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Darren Fletcher will make his first start for nearly a year against Newcastle next week.

Midfielder continues comeback after 10-month absence

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Darren Fletcher will make his first start for nearly a year against Newcastle United in the Capital One Cup next week. The Scotland international has not featured since last November after taking an extended break from the game in order to battle a chronic bowel condition. The illness had threatened to end the 28-year-old's career but he has fought his way back to fitness and made a late substitute appearance against Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League in midweek. Ferguson conceded that Fletcher was unlikely to start the Premier League game at Liverpool on Sunday, warning that the midfielder still has some way to go in his recovery. However, he did reveal that his fellow Scot was earmarked to start the League Cup clash with the Magpies at Old Trafford on Wednesday. "Fletcher won't start on Sunday, but he will certainly play against Newcastle and that is the perfect game for him to start back," Ferguson said. "Then we have the game against Tottenham and he could be involved in that. It depends on how he does on Wednesday. It will be his first 90 minutes since 10 months out. It's a big one for him. "He is handling the condition at the moment, as we saw the other night he is looking fine. It is a matter of hoping the condition stays dormant and he is handling his diet well. Hopefully he gets that break."