Boost for Sir Alex as Fletcher returns to training with United following mystery

Darren Fletcher handed Manchester United a major boost yesterday by joining in a full training session for the first time since the end of last season.

The Scotland midfielder failed to report back on time after the summer break last month amid fears he had suffered a setback in his battle to shake off a debilitating virus that kept him out for two months of the Barclays Premier League title run-in.

But Fletcher has since followed a weights programme in the gym at Carrington to regain his strength and fitness, and was able to rejoin the rest of Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad for normal training yesterday.

Eyes on the prize: Fletcher is back in training at Carrington

Although the 27-year-old might be struggling to be fit in time for Sunday’s Community Shield against Manchester City, his return on the eve of the new season will be welcomed by Ferguson.

Talk of United’s weakness in central midfield has dominated the summer, and although Fletcher is not exactly the creative player Ferguson needs to replace Paul Scholes, his value to the Premier League champions cannot be underestimated.

Doubt: Aguero may not feature against United

City’s new £38million signing Sergio Aguero remains their main doubt for Sunday’ s curtain-raiser at Wembley due to the blisters that kept him out of last weekend’s win over Inter Milan in Dublin.

The Argentina forward will almost certainly make his debut against United but it is possible he might start on the bench.

Wayne Rooney raised tensions ahead of the game yesterday by urging his teammates to draw first blood against a team he now considers to be a genuine threat to United’s hopes of retaining the title.

City beat their neighbours in last season’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on the way to lifting their first trophy in 35 years, and Rooney said: ‘You couldn’t get better motivation to start the season with a bang.

‘Playing City in the Community Shield is the best way to start. I hadn’t even thought about it until I turned on the telly the other night and someone was talking about potentially the best Community Shield ever.

‘It’s a great way to start pre-season training, knowing that at the end of the hard work, before the games begin, there’s a Manchester derby.’