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The 28-year-old midfielder had not played since November
Darren Fletcher makes appearance for Manchester United
Darren Fletcher made an appearance for Manchester United in Tuesday's 2-1 testimonial defeat against Aberdeen.
The 28-year-old midfielder had not played since November, when he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis - a chronic bowel condition.
Jonny Hayes and Joe Shaughnessy put Aberdeen in front, before Anderson's late consolation.
Darren Fletcher factfile
- Age: 28
- Man Utd appearances: 300
- Man Utd goals: 22
- Scotland appearances: 58
- Scotland goals: 7
- Honours: 4 Premier League titles (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011), 1 FA Cup (2004), 2 League Cups (2006, 2010), 1 Champions League (2008), 1 World Club Cup (2008)
- Debut: v Basel, 12 March, 2003 (Champions League second group stage)
- Last game: v Benfica, 22 November, 2011 (Champions League group stage)
Fletcher had been training with the Scotland squad ahead of their friendly against Australia on Wednesday.
The testimonial at Pittodrie on Tuesday night was a benefit game for Neil Simpson, who was part of United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's side when he guided Aberdeen to the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1983.
Fletcher, who took the captain's armband when coming on as a second-half substitute, received a loud reception from a sell-out 21,000 crowd.
Sir Alex told his club's in-house television channel MUTV: "It's been quiet progress for the boy.
"He joined in training a couple of weeks ago and it's one of those situations where you say: 'Let's see how he does because he has had a really difficult time in the last year'.
"He's got to the stage now where he feels he needs a game. I let him join Scotland this week but he wanted a game so I said: 'Come to Aberdeen and join up afterwards'.
"I'll give him 20 to 25 minutes."
Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs all started the game, with former United players Dwight Yorke and Clayton Blackmore on the bench alongside Fletcher.
Dons veterans Brian Irvine, Dougie Bell, Doug Rougvie and Steve Tosh all made an appearance, while Simpson kicked the match off before making a hasty exit.
Hayes gave the hosts an unexpected lead after 38 minutes after a mistake from Scholes allowed the Aberdeen man in, before Shaughnessy's second-half strike doubled their advantage.
Anderson did pull one back for United with nine minutes remaining but Aberdeen held on.
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Comment number 113.
Guernsey Red15th August 2012 - 20:22
@112 why not apply that to any club?!
Link to this (Comment number 113)
Comment number 112.
confounder15th August 2012 - 20:18
May be someone can explain this to me 'cos I is stupid. How comes Man Utd cannot spend 24,000,000 quid on developing youth instead of a single player? Are you trying to tell me it's impossible to develop a couple of very good to great players with this amount of money.
24m could provide top coaching to youngsters and there is a high probability some of them would turn out world class.
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Comment number 111.
Guernsey Red15th August 2012 - 20:11
Looks like van Persie is on his way.
Link to this (Comment number 111)
Comment number 110.
confounder15th August 2012 - 20:07
Man United a better team without Fletcher? Absolutely not. He adds a bit of grit and fire. Darren Fletcher is no Roy Keane but he is committed and a good passer of the ball. Every team needs a water carrier.
I see Man Utd have wasted 24m on Van Persie. 24m for an injury prone 29 year old. What a waste!
What will Van Persie add that Man Utd don't have in Berbatov?!? United need midfielders.
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Comment number 109.
mrs svennis15th August 2012 - 19:12
Good to see him back on the pitch. I may be a Lpool fan but was very sorry to hear of his illness. He always looked like a player who tries his hardest even if he doesn't always play well. Can't believe the negative comments - can't people forget their own stupid partisan prejudices and just wish a young guy makes a full recovery?
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Comments 5 of 113