Fergie to play waiting game

Darren Fletcher made his long-awaited comeback from illness on Tuesday but Sir Alex Ferguson insists he will adopt a cautious approach.

The combative midfielder had not played since November last year but made a return to action in the benefit match for Aberdeen's Neil Simpson on Tuesday night, which Manchester United lost 2-1. Punters looking to use their free bet will have noted that Ferguson struggled for midfielders last term, so much so that he was forced to persuade Paul Scholes to come out of retirement, and news that Fletcher is on his way back will come as a welcome boost for United's bid to reclaim the title. Fletcher was used a second-half substitute at Pittodrie and Ferguson insisted that he will not be rushed into thrusting the Scotland skipper back into competitive action. "It's been quiet progress for the boy," Ferguson told MUTV. "He joined in training a couple of weeks ago and it's one of those situations where you say: 'Let's see how he does because he has had a really difficult time in the last year'. "Therefore, I wasn't really placing too much hope in it but let's see how he does. "He's got to the stage now where he feels he needs a game. I let him join Scotland this week but he wanted a game so I said: 'Come to Aberdeen and join up afterwards'."