FLETCHER MAKES SQUAD

The Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has included the Scottish midfielder Darren Fletcher in the Champions League squad for the group stages. Fletcher has not played for Manchester United for more than a year now due to the chronic bowel condition he has been suffering from. It is not known whether he will return from his problems to play for Manchester United again, although the club officials have been extremely confident about his return. He was initially expected to return to first-team action in September, and Manchester United have raised the hopes of getting the star midfielder back by including him in the squad for the Champions League group stages.

Sir Alex Ferguson has also included Darren Fletcher in the squad for the Premier league up until January, while other long-term absentees like Stilian Petrov for Aston Villa has also been included. The Aston Villa captain has been suffering from leukaemia, but it is thought that he is winning his battle against the disease. Manchester United will be able to make only 25 names for the Premier league squad until January, while there can be any number of under 21 players. Rather than leave Darren Fletcher out of the squad until January, Ferguson has included him in the squad prompting suggestions that he could return to first-team action sooner rather than later.

Manchester United have included the latest summer signing Nick Powell in the squad. The 18-year-old striker was signed from League one in the summer for around £ 4 million. He will be competing for a spot against the likes of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Danny Welbeck, and Hernandez. However, the £ 7 million signing Bebe, who has raised a lot of controversy, has not been included in the squad for the Premier league or the Champions League.