Classic Times Fantasy Football is back. Sign up for £3 a team or 3 for £6

As the only Scot in Manchester United’s first-team squad, Darren Fletcher has had to contend with jokes that he is in fact Sir Alex Ferguson’s son, so there was hilarity in the visiting team’s dressing-room at Fratton Park on Monday night, when the manager, with an unfortunate slip of the tongue, referred to his team’s match-winner against Portsmouth as “Darren Ferguson”.

Fletcher, though, has generally had the last laugh, establishing himself as an important squad player at Old Trafford, despite the temptation to pursue regular first-team football at clubs such as Everton. And, having made a strong start to the new season, scoring important goals against Newcastle United and Portsmouth, he is about to be offered an improvement and an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of the season.

The Scotland midfield player was known to be concerned about his long-term prospects with United for a time last season, having found himself on the periphery of the squad, but his subsequent involvement in the run-in to the Barclays Premier League title and Champions League successes convinced him that he had a future at Old Trafford.

Now there are TWO ways to feed your fantasy

We have built on last year's success of PlayTheGame by offering fantasy football managers double the fun this coming season

Multimedia

• Chelsea: On-the-job training

• Man United: You've been merked, Capello

• Reading: Is Lita's yesterday's man?

Related Links

• Ferguson sweats on Berbatov

• Fletcher fills breach for ailing United

David Moyes, the Everton manager, thought that he might be able to entice the midfield player to Goodison Park this summer, having been alerted to his contract having less than 12 months to run, but Ferguson and David Gill, the United chief executive, are eager to secure him on a new four-year deal that is likely to mean an increase in his £30,000-a-week wage.

A goalscoring start to the season, with the equaliser against Newcastle and the only goal of the match against Portsmouth, will strengthen Fletcher’s bargaining position, but he is already held in high esteem by his team-mates. “Darren was outstanding in pre-season and he has carried that form on,” Rio Ferdinand said. “It’s great that players are posing problems now for the manager when everyone is fit. They’re putting in performances that demand they are on the bench, if not starting. I’m sure the manager will be happy with that.”

The next assignment for United comes in the European Super Cup final against Zenit St Petersburg in Monaco on Friday, with Ferguson eager to take the opportunity to give run-outs to Gary Neville, who has not played in the Premier League for almost 18 months because of injury, and Nani, the Portugal winger, who has missed the start of the league campaign while serving a suspension for a red card against West Ham United at the end of last season.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still recovering from ankle surgery, may also travel to Monaco as overwhelming favourite to pick up the Uefa Club Footballer of the Year award, which will be presented at the Champions League draw tomorrow evening.