Sir Alex Ferguson welcomes the return of Darren Fletcher to Manchester United's starting line-up against CSKA Moscow tonight and is delighted the fellow Scot is finally recognised as a 'big game player'.

The 25-year-old midfielder had largely been regarded as a squad player among the superstars at Old Trafford but the Scotland captain has developed into a key member of Ferguson's Premier League winners over the past 18 months.

Ferguson said: "Darren is now getting an acceptance that he is a very important player for us.

"Our fans see that he is a key performer in major games. That has been very important to the lad because it gives him confidence."

Fletcher's absence from United's engine room for the Champions League Final against Barcelona in Rome through suspension and in last week's game with Liverpool with an ankle injury were big factors in both defeats.

His timely return - he was an unused substitute in the 2-0 win over Blackburn last weekend - will lessen the injury blow that has ruled out experienced winger Ryan Giggs and centre-backs Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Striker Dimitar Berbatov is a doubt with a knee problem while new father Wayne Rooney is unlikely to be involved tonight after the birth of son Kai yesterday.

Meanwhile, under-fire Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will be without Steven Gerrard for the club's crunch match in Lyon tomorrow night as the midfielder continues to struggle with a groin injury.

Top scorer Fernando Torres will play but it is feared that the Spaniard may need surgery on his own groin problem, which Benitez will hope to stall until after next summer's World Cup.

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