Midfielder opens up about relationship with Man United legend Roy Keane

Darren Fletcher has revealed that Roy Keane was the Manchester United player who helped the Scotland international most at Old Trafford.

The defensive midfielder was on the end of a famous Keane rant in 2006 which led to the former Republic of Ireland captain’s abrupt exit from Manchester United.

Speaking during his famous outburst on MUTV, Keane said of Fletcher:

“I can’t understand why people in Scotland rave about Darren Fletcher.”

The Scottish midfielder scored 24 times in 342 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United during his 12-year career at the 20-time English champions.

Fletcher moved to West Bromwich Albion from Manchester United in 2014 after ex-manager Louis van Gaal deemed the midfielder surplus to requirements.

The 33-year-old has had a positive impact on the Baggies during his three-season stay and has established himself as an accomplished Premier League midfielder.

But Fletcher has paid credit to Keane’s influence in the early stages of his career for helping the Scot become the player that he is today.

“Me and Roy were fine. Ninety-eight percent of the time, he was the guy who helped me the most and believed in me, spoke to me and praised me, but people only remember the two percent, when he let me know some home truths. That’s the one people remember because it’s a better story to tell,” Fletcher told ESPN FC.

“But the likes of Roy and Giggsy, they made you winners and made you realise it was about winning at all costs and that drawing a game was a disaster, not winning titles is a disaster. The standards they set, they were driving forces every day and pushed you to reach incredibly high standards and become better team players. It was a constant learning curve for me, how to be a man and how to be a winner.”

Manchester United are in fifth place in the Premier League table.