Fletcher comes of age with Scots armband

Darren Fletcher will captain Scotland in Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Norway. The Scotland manager George Burley yesterday named the Manchester United midfielder as his latest captain in the absence of Barry Ferguson and Stephen McManus. The 24-year-old will wear the armband at Hampden on Saturday on his 40th international appearance.

The honour continues a good month for Fletcher, who signed a three-year contract at Old Trafford last week.

Burley said: "Darren has been an outstanding player for Scotland for a number of years. At the same time, he has established himself as a regular player for one of the biggest clubs in the world. Since I took over, his attitude towards playing for his country has been outstanding. He is a player who is always desperate to represent Scotland. It is a measure of his talent that, at his relatively young age he has achieved so much for his club and will win his 40th cap for his country on Saturday."

Ferguson has yet to play under Burley because of the ankle problem that forced him to have surgery before the start of the season. The stand-in captain McManus is suspended after being sent off in last month's 2-1 victory in Iceland following a handball inside the penalty box.

Fletcher has led his country on three previous occasions, all of which resulted in Scotland victories.

Kenny Miller, Kris Commons and Kevin Thomson all withdrew from the squad, but there are no other injury doubts so Burley will not call up any replacements.

* The former Bolton and Arsenal manager Bruce Rioch will leave the Danish champions AaB Aalborg when his contract runs out at the end of the year.

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