sean04
13/03/2003, 2:36 PM
saw this on www.a2zsoccer.com
The Republic of Ireland missed out on highly rated Manchester United youngster Darren Fletcher who made his debut for Manchester United on Wednesday night.
Fletcher, who qualifies for Ireland through his Achill born mother, was one of the few highlights for United in their 1-1 champions league draw at home to Basle.
The 19-year-old was born in Scotland but made regular visits to the west of Ireland during summer breaks.
However, the midfielder ended up declaring for the Tartan Army and has represented them at under-15, U-16 and U-21 level.
A2zsoccer has learnt that relatives of the player made the FAI aware of Fletcher while he was a schoolboy but they failed to act promptly and have now lost a real star of the future to Scotland.
Meanwhile, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes the midfielder can be the latest talent to emerge from the club’s excellent youth set-up.
"Darren has a chance," said Ferguson. "He is a year older than Kieran and that probably helped him last night," said Ferguson. "He has had a difficult start to his career at the club, suffering a broken foot which fractured again when he came back too soon, then missing 10 weeks with an ankle injury.
"He was also physically very immature. He is still skin and bone really but he has very good ability and there is a lot of common sense about his play."
The Republic of Ireland missed out on highly rated Manchester United youngster Darren Fletcher who made his debut for Manchester United on Wednesday night.
Fletcher, who qualifies for Ireland through his Achill born mother, was one of the few highlights for United in their 1-1 champions league draw at home to Basle.
The 19-year-old was born in Scotland but made regular visits to the west of Ireland during summer breaks.
However, the midfielder ended up declaring for the Tartan Army and has represented them at under-15, U-16 and U-21 level.
A2zsoccer has learnt that relatives of the player made the FAI aware of Fletcher while he was a schoolboy but they failed to act promptly and have now lost a real star of the future to Scotland.
Meanwhile, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes the midfielder can be the latest talent to emerge from the club’s excellent youth set-up.
"Darren has a chance," said Ferguson. "He is a year older than Kieran and that probably helped him last night," said Ferguson. "He has had a difficult start to his career at the club, suffering a broken foot which fractured again when he came back too soon, then missing 10 weeks with an ankle injury.
"He was also physically very immature. He is still skin and bone really but he has very good ability and there is a lot of common sense about his play."