Fit Fletcher keen to show United all-round worth

Manchester United FC's Darren Fletcher tells the latest edition of Champions Matchday about his return from illness and what it takes to become an all-round midfielder.

When Manchester United FC announced in December 2011 that Darren Fletcher would be taking an "extended break" from football because he was suffering from a bowel disease, many feared the Scotland captain had played his last game.

So that is why there was such a huge cheer at Old Trafford on matchday one when Fletcher came on for Paul Scholes in the second half against Galatasaray AŞ. "The condition never goes away and that's the thing I have to live with," Fletcher said of his illness. "Every day is a battle for me. I have to watch my diet and take certain medication or it could come back again."

Fletcher's return is perfectly timed. United have many creative players – Shinji Kagawa, Tom Cleverley and Ryan Giggs among them – but their midfield has been crying out for an organiser in the Roy Keane mould. A fit Fletcher, who admits he was a target for Keane's famously fierce, yet constructive, criticism whenever they trained together at United, could suit the job.

The Scottish international has been at the club since he was 11. Given he is the epitome of professional focus – his entire lifetime consumption of alcohol amounts to half a pint of cider – it is easy to see why Sir Alex Ferguson puts so much faith in him. Now 28, Fletcher made his United debut in 2003 yet came into his own in the 2008/09 season, when he started 42 games. Since then he has become increasingly influential and more rounded as a player.

"I decided I needed to see more of the ball and get more goals," he said. "I knew I could be a good team-mate, but I could also run beyond the strikers, make passes and get goals. I could become an all-rounder and not just think about what I'd do when we didn't have the ball."

Fletcher's hero as a child was Fernando Redondo, whom he watched hold Argentina's midfield together at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Not an obvious role model for a young footballer, perhaps, but it is telling that Redondo, an elegant defensive midfielder who added an attacking dimension to his game, caught Fletcher's eye.

Another key part of his make-up is his big-match temperament. He insists he gets excited about the marquee fixtures, not nervous, and is proud that no player has ever "torn him to shreds" in a high-profile game. Yet the most important ties have eluded him.

Suspension kept him out of the 2009 UEFA Champions League final defeat by FC Barcelona and illness cut short his campaign two years later, sidelining him for the final against the same opponents. Could Fletcher be United's missing ingredient? If he stays fit and well, we may be about to find out.

Team of 2012 reflect on a brilliant year

"It's an honour for me to be voted in this team of great players," said FC Barcelona's Xavi Hernández as UEFA.com users' chosen XI reflect on 12 months of footballing wonders.

Five members of Spain's UEFA EURO 2012-winning squad are represented in the UEFA.com users' Team of the Year for 2012, with 5.3 million votes cast in this year's poll. Here the final XI – in users' favoured 4-4-2 formation – tell UEFA.com about their successes in 2012.

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid CF)
In these last few years we've become European and world champions, and now people demand that from us again. But people should not forget that it's not that easy. There are other national teams that are changing and developing their squads as well, which is also a factor. Fortunately, though, I think we still have what it takes for a long time yet.

Defender: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid CF)
We are aware of what is at stake. And if you impress individually, it is because of the collective work. And, in this regard, we are happy with all the defensive line in general. Not only myself and Piqué, but also the full-backs and the work done by every team-mate who gives everything on the pitch.

Defender: Gerard Piqué (FC Barcelona)
There are many things behind the scenes that people don't see. People only see the final product that happens in the stadium, but behind that there is a lot of work, a lot of suffering and sacrifice. There's a lot of desire to win, and in the end there is a final result that people can see. But behind that, a lot of work.

Defender: Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München)
I know that I can play at the top level on either flank. I have always shown that I can switch sides for a game, whether it's with Bayern or the national team. I have proven that I can switch from right to left for a game and vice versa. But in the end it's the coach's decision.

Defender: Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain FC)
I always try to do the simplest thing possible and bring security to my team, because there's no point in a central defender going forward and wanting to score goals, that isn't my job – my job is to defend. I hope that as the year goes on I can maintain my form and the same consistency as ever, so I can continue to receive such praise.

Midfielder: Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona)
I'm very happy and proud to have won that treble. Two EUROs and a World Cup has never been done before – it's something historic. Nowadays, in football, it’s very difficult to go all the way until the end, so we'll give our very best to reach another final.

Midfielder: Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona)
I'm very proud. It's an honour for me to be voted in this team of great players at both European and world level. I just want to keep doing my very best so I can keep winning and achieving big things with my club and national team. I am going through a great time in this world of football and I want it to continue.

Midfielder: Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)
Well, you need to know a bit of everything. You need to know how to defend, how to attack, how to direct the game, win the ball and score goals – a bit of everything. I just try to give my best in training to be fit for the matches. The older you get it becomes more and more important to train well and focus on every single detail, just to stay in your best form as long as possible.

Midfielder: Mesut Özil (Real Madrid CF)
I live in Madrid, the team supports me a lot, the coach has confidence in me, so I can express my full potential on the pitch. For the national team I also have the confidence of the coach and the team is there for me – I enjoy it a lot and am very proud to play for Germany.

Forward: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Every year I try to develop further and become a better player. I had the good fortune to score many goals but, like I always say, it's not my objective to increase the number of goals every year. My real objective is to win more trophies and that's what I intend to do.

Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid CF)
I will always have responsibility, but not much pressure. We can always improve in every department. I won't single out one area, because I think the most important thing is to always do well and work more and more.