Lyon’s Mahamadou Diarra also remains in the frame and Fletcher accepts it would be a major disappointment for his manager if the Red Devils ranks have not been swelled by at least one fresh face before the new Barclays Premiership campaign gets underway against Fulham on August 20.

Rather than fear the extra competition, the Scottish international is relishing it. He accepts major signings are part of life at Old Trafford but Fletcher also knows if he keeps his own performance levels high, he will still get picked.

He said: “Maybe there will be a new midfielder.

“This is Manchester United. There are new players coming in all the time.

“The club need to buy players to progress. It is all part of being here.

“But the situation is fair. If you are performing the manager will pick you.”

Fletcher started every game of the three-match tour of South Africa, operating on the right-hand side of midfield on each occasion.

No doubt the 22-year-old will be keen to be involved on Wednesday when United visit Glasgow to face Celtic.

By then, Ferguson will have welcomed back the vast majority of his World Cup contingent, with all the England players, Park Ji-sung, Edwin van der Sar and, in theory, Ruud van Nistelrooy due to return to training tomorrow.

After the Celtic encounter, United visit Preston next weekend before heading to Amsterdam for the prestigious annual four-team tournament they last appeared in four years ago.

By the time the Red Devils tackle Seville on August 12, Fletcher is hoping they will have found the kind of form that will ensure they make a flying start.

"The start is important because if you are playing catch-up for the rest of the season its hard,” said the Edinburgh-born player.

“At least the one thing we did manage last season was to finish second, so we do not have the distraction of playing in the Champions League qualifiers before the Premiership starts.

“We have three or four weeks of the league before we even have to think about Europe.”

Given their shocking exit at the group stage last year, it might be better if United did not think about Europe for quite a while.

Gaining respectability is a more realistic priority, although, as Fletcher knows only too well, at United the demands are rather higher than at most clubs.

“Every season is a big season at Manchester United,” he said.

“You are not just expected to win one trophy but two or three.

“We won the League Cup last year but we are looking to go on to bigger and better things. The Premiership is our priority.”