Ferguson hails Fletcher

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The 24-year-old may not have the high profile of the likes of team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez but his Manchester United manager has held him up as "a true professional".

"Darren has shown he is a true professional," said Ferguson. "When you give people good contracts you hope they will become like that. He is a terrific example of a professional to any young player."

He added: "I keep talking about Bobby Charlton's book, and his frustration when he was not in the team at 19 and had to be patient.

"Darren Fletcher epitomises that patience and now he's back in the squad and everyone recognises his abilities. It's a great credit to the lad."

Fletcher was picked ahead of the veteran Paul Scholes and summer signing Owen Hargreaves in Tuesday night's Champions League clash with Lyon - and after scoring twice in the FA Cup demolition of Arsenal he again rose to the challenge.

Ferguson said: "It was a big decision for me (to pick him) because Paul Scholes had put in a vintage performance at Fulham (where United won 3-0).

"If the game had come a day later I would have played Scholes but decided not to given the length of time he has been out injured, and his age.

"Darren came in and did a job very effectively. He's not an easy player to come up against - I wouldn't like to play against him.

"He closes down people so quickly and keeps his eye on the ball and tackles without conceding fouls."