Reds midfielder Darren Fletcher made his full Scotland debut on Wednesday night in a 0-0 draw with Norway in Oslo.
And Scottish manager Bertie Vogts has spoken in glowing terms of the highly-rated midfielder. Vogts even went as far as to liken Fletcher to German football legend Lothar Matthaus.
" He is about the same level as Matthaus at the same age,” Vogts enthused. “Darren is unbelievable, he is so confident with the ball.
The 19-year-old highly-promising central midfielder started on the bench for the Scots, and came on in the second half for his first appearance for Bertie Vogts’ side.
Fletcher could have made his full Scotland debut much earlier in his career, but due to injuries as a cause of a sudden growth spurt at the age of 16, Fletch has been held back.
Vogts had previously noted that he “knows what Fletcher can do” and had made the conscious decision not to throw the midfielder into the deep end too soon. But now, with his injury problems hopefully behind him, his height settling at 6ft 1in, his international career can blossom.
”He is willing to receive it under any circumstances,” Vogts said. “He can play on the right or the left and in the middle, just behind the strikers. He is progressing well at Old Trafford and I can see him having maybe 20 games in Alex Ferguson’s first team this season.”
Even though Ronaldo, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Ronaldo are all eyeing positions in midfield, Fletcher will be looking to use his two appearances last season as a springboard for more of an involvement this term.
And even though United are strong in midfield, it says something of just how highly Vogts rates the promising youngster that he can see Darren playing an increasing role in the side.
”The number of important matches in all the competitions United have in a season, Alex needs around 25 players. I know there is a lot of competition for midfield places in that team, but Darren will have chances and that can only make him better,” he added.
Fletcher only made his full United debut five months ago, against FC Basel in the Champions League on March 12. However, not that Fletcher’s undoubted potential is being beginning to be fulfilled, Vogts is expecting very big things from one of the shining lights of Scottish football.
”He has a very big future, and it’s very good for the Scottish game,” Vogts said after watching Fletcher make his debut. “I’ve known about him for a long time and he had very bad luck with injuries during the two seasons before last. That’s why I wouldn’t rush him into our under-19 side, even though we could do with somebody of his talent. I said ‘no, this is a player Scotland will need over the next 12 years, not just for the moment’."
Fletcher could be in line to add to his debut international cap in the forthcoming qualifiers against the Faroe Islands on 6 September, and then a crunch Group, but for now he can savour the moment of the first in what will hopefully be a succession of appearances in international football; a stage that befits hits talents.
il s´enflamme peut etre un peu la ! !!
^^