Darren Fletcher

SIR Alex Ferguson has heaped praise on Scotland midfield battler Darren Fletcher by describing him as ¡§a terrific example to any young player¡¨.

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¡¨.

Fletcher has been in and out of the side this season such is the vast array of talent at Old Trafford.

But he marked his return on Tuesday night with a sound, workmanlike performance in the engine room as United clinched a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Ronaldo¡¦s 30th goal of a special season was enough to end Lyon¡¦s resistance as they went through 2-1 on aggregate.

While the Portugal winger is in a line for a number of top personal awards, Ferguson turned his focus to Fletcher.

¡§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.

¡§I keep talking about Bobby Charlton¡¦s book, and his frustration when he was not in the team at 19 and he had to be patient.

¡§Darren Fletcher epitomises that patience and now he¡¦s back in the squad and everyone ƒsrecognises his abilities. It¡¦s a great credit to the lad.¡¨

Fletcher was picked ahead of the veteran Paul Scholes and summer signing Owen Hargreaves - 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.

¡§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.¡¨