Fletcher pleases Reserves coach

Warren Joyce was pleased with Darren Fletcher's return in the Reserves' 2-1 defeat to Arsenal.

The midfielder played all 90 minutes of the match at Underhill as he steps up his bid for full fitness and looks likely to train with the rest of the first-team squad later this week.

"Obviously there are players who need games and we have to think of ways to accommodate all those players that needed a game," boss Joyce told MUTV.

"It's great to see Fletch coming through as he works hard and is a tremendous professional. It's good to see him come through 90 minutes unscathed.

"It's up to the manager and how he recovers from this but hopefully, touch wood, he'll be feeling in good nick and can take part in training later in the week."

Joyce expects to lose some members of his squad before the transfer deadline as his young charges face a tough examination over the course of the season.

"There's a good group but it's a young group and it's going to be difficult for them this season," he explained. "The success is how players come through, not necessarily winning games and it's going to be very difficult to do what we did last season with this age group.

"Once the ones go out on loan who we think will go on loan, it'll be tough for the boys and a big learning curve for them."