Darren Fletcher hopes to impress Man United manager Louis van Gaal

Darren Fletcher says he is ready for the challenge of impressing new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal.

The Scotland international made his Red Devils return last December after spending the best part of three seasons on the sidelines struggling with ulcerative colitis.

All the players are looking at this as a fresh start and want to get in front of him as soon as possible, get your name in the team and make sure you’ve involved in the session

Darren Fletcher

And Fletcher underlined the importance of pre-season as the 30-year-old bids to catch Van Gaal’s eye amid reports the United boss wants to sign Arturo Vidal this summer.

“It’s a challenge, sure, but football’s a challenge,” Fletcher told Manchester Evening News.

He added: “Knowing a big part of my game is based on fitness this pre-season will be vital for me for the season ahead. We’re all in the same position – we all need to impress the new manager and I’m no different.

“Every opportunity you get you have to show that you’re good enough to be in his plans for the rest of the season.

“I think all the players are looking at this as a fresh start and want to get in front of him as soon as possible, get your name in the team and make sure you’ve involved in the session, because I think it’s going to be exciting.

“There are some new signings and a real buzz around the place again. Everybody’s looking forward in great anticipation to the manager coming in and him getting his ideas across.”