Fletcher eager to bounce back from Cup upset

DARREN FLETCHER will not allow the disappointment at missing out on Manchester United's Carling Cup triumph to wreck the remainder of his season.

While most of the focus on Alex Ferguson's team selection for last week's victory over Wigan centred around the omission of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Fletcher's pain was just as acute.

Despite making 37 appearances for the Red Devils this season, and starring in four of their five League Cup ties prior to last Sunday's showpiece, Fletcher was not even handed a place in the bench. But the Scotland international is determined not to let the massive setback affect his confidence and has vowed to force his way back into Ferguson's plans.

"I was disappointed but it has gone now," said the 22-year-old.

Fletcher understandably experienced mixed emotions as Gary Neville lifted his first trophy as United skipper.

On one hand, Fletcher was delighted his team-mates had been able to stave off the threat of successive seasons without a trophy, on the other he felt unable to play an active part in the post-match celebrations because he did not contribute to the win.

It was the second season in succession he had left Cardiff with a twinge of sadness following the Red Devils' FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal last May. But Fletcher does recall that encounter with the Gunners - when he was preferred to Ryan Giggs - and the win over Millwall 12 months before that when he edged Phil Neville out of United's starting line-up, as evidence of the switch in fortunes players can experience at the biggest clubs in the land.

Fletcher will hope for an instant recall tonight when United face Wigan once more in Premiership combat on their first competitive trip to the JJB Stadium.

Liverpool may now have ousted them from second spot but the Merseysiders failure to secure maximum points from their Anfield encounter with Charlton has handed United a definite advantage in the battle for automatic Champions League qualification.

United trail their north-west neighbours by only a single point but boast two games in hand and a superior goal difference. Crucially, they also have a clear run of fixtures whereas Liverpool's minds are still occupied by their Champions League and FA Cup campaigns.

And, while setting sights on finishing second might be a difficult concept for a United squad to grasp given the amount of trophies they have won over the past decade, Fletcher believes it is a necessary evil because of the consequences of failure.