The midfielder signed a three-year extension to his United contract on Friday, a reward for the patience he has shown throughout his Old Trafford career. At 24, Fletcher knows he could be a regular performer elsewhere.

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish - who knows all about Fletcher from his Scotland days - expressed an interest last January and boyhood idols Celtic would be keen on taking the Dalkeith-born player north if he ever suggested that as an option.

However, Fletcher has never made any secret of his desire to remain with United, the club he would have made his debut for as a 16-year-old if the Football Association had not intervened on the grounds he was still, technically, at school.

"It is a great honour to sign a new contract," he said. "This is a fantastic club, the best in the world, and there is no place I would rather be.

"I know I did not start as many games as I would have liked last season but the manager thinks highly of me and I will keeping pushing for a run in the team."