Darren Fletcher enjoys Man Utd coaching role during break

Scotland captain Darren Fletcher says he is enjoying coaching Manchester United's reserves during his enforced playing absence.

The 27-year-old midfielder is currently sidelined with ulcerative collitis, a bowel condition.

"I've been really enjoying the coaching," he told BBC Scotland's Sportscene.

"I'm passing on advice to these players and it also gets me out of the house and keeps me busy."

Last December, Fletcher announced that he was taking an "extended break" from football following medical advice.

His last game was the 2-2 Champions League home draw against Benfica on 22 November, in which he scored.

"I'm feeling okay," Fletcher said. "I'm still not ready to come back playing or training yet but I'm listening to the medical people and trying to get myself right.

"The challenge and the focus is to be ready for next season."

Fletcher said it proved "very difficult" to play with his current condition and that his general health also suffered.

He added: "Me and the medical team decided it'd be best if I tried to get myself right and take an extended period out from the game, then come back fully fit and ready to play.

"It's an unpredictable illness and you don't know what lies ahead of you. But I've got to keep staying strong and keep believing. That's an important side of it - positive thinking.

"I've received great support from everyone in Scotland and down in Manchester. I'm hopeful and really positive that I'll be back and back to my best."

During his enforced absence, Fletcher has been coaching the Manchester United reserves to keep him involved in the game.

"It's always something I've had a keen interest in - coaching and passing on advice to younger players who are at an important level at Manchester United in the reserves.

"The next step is first-team football, so [I'm] passing on advice to these players."

Scotland manager Craig Levein has not given up hope that Fletcher may be available for the start of 2014 World Cup qualifying in September.

Antonio Valencia says he is grateful to receive praise from fans and the media but insists he's more interested in helping United win the title this season.

After a four-week spell on the sidelines, Valencia made a triumphant return to action during the Reds’ 5-0 win over Wolves, earning rave reviews for a display that yielded one goal and two assists.

Such was his performance, the Ecuadorian was the clear winner in ManUtd.com’s Man of the Match poll for the Molineux mauling, recording a landslide victory with a whopping 74% of all votes cast.Yet Valencia is keen to play down talk of his best performance in red.

“I don’t look at my individual performances like that,” Antonio told MUTV. “I try and strive for continuous improvement and I am always looking to improve from one game to the next. I think I’ve had plenty of other decent performances for the club, sure.

“If it’s a case of analysing stuff, it’s really down to the manager and the backroom staff to give their opinions on that. It’s just down to me to keep working hard and improving.

“It does make you happy when you hear positive things in the media and from the fans. All you can do, at that point, is be grateful and thank people for that. I suppose it does encourage you to fight even harder to work towards that goal and that goal is obviously to win trophies.

“I’m very happy to be back. I managed to get 90 minutes under my belt against Wolves. It felt good all the way through and it’s good to be playing now until the end of the season, hopefully.”

So far, Valencia has scored five goals in 29 appearances this season, clocking up an incredible 13 assists in the process. What’s more impressive is that 12 of those set-ups were provided in December or the months beyond – when the big players really come to the fore.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the former Wigan Athletic winger says he prefers to supply the ammunition over pulling the trigger, though he does admit that his famously stern expression might pave way for a more elaborate celebration, should he ever bag his first United hat-trick or more.

“I get really pleased and full of emotion when I score. But, to be totally truthful, I prefer playing the perfect pass for someone else to score a goal. I like that, it’s a good feeling. I think maybe I’ve got to leave it until I get to three or four goals and then smile more. What I really need to do is learn some kind of dance routine or something!”

Valencia unmoved by plaudits
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features...g-trophies.aspx

Can't wait to see that (his celebration) 

aye ,good for Fletchy. At least he has some experience with coaching now.

I'm hoping to see Fletcher in coaching staff in the future. good luck returning next season.

De Gea, Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Rafael, Carrick, Giggs, Valencia, Rooney, Young, Welbeck.