Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is simply hoping to play "some small part" in his side's search for trophies this season after a long lay-off with illness.
The Scot has been absent since the defeat to Liverpool on March 6 with a virus, but made his return by playing 45 minutes in Thursday night's goalless reserve-team clash with Arsenal. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson previously indicated Fletcher would return immediately when available as United look to wrap up the Barclays Premier League title and push for glory in the Champions League.
But Fletcher told MUTV: "That's nice to hear but the lads have done fantastic, it's going to be hard to get back in that team. We're in a great position with a month left and I want to give the manager another option and play some small part."
On his return, he said: "It's great to be back and get some minutes under my belt. The plan was always just to play 45 minutes because I've been out for such a long time, I don't want to push too quickly and set myself back.
"It was a bad virus, originally it was supposed to be a week and it escalated. I lost a bit of weight and when you have to put the weight back on it's a slow process, and what should have been a couple of weeks ended up being a lot longer."
The 27-year-old would not be drawn on whether a first-team return against the Gunners this weekend was on the cards.
"I'll see how I am," he said. "I don't want to rush it too quickly so I'll speak to the doctor and the manager, see how we're feeling and take it from there."
Source: PA
