Support of Sir Alex is vital to Darren Fletcher

Darren Fletcher’s fighting spirit can save his career.

And a huge boost to his future prospects is having Sir Alex Ferguson in his corner.

It’s terribly sad to see the Scotland captain’s career in jeopardy again after he seemed to have battled back from the chronic bowel condition that has caused him so many problems.

Darren is a really honest professional, and put himself through a tremendous amount of stress to play for his country last year.

He was struggling for fitness, but drew on every ounce of his inner strength to turn up and battle for Scotland.

The news that he has now gone through an operation and will be out for the rest of the season must be tough for him to take.

Many players would raise the white flag at this point. They’d take the insurance money, hang up the boots and concentrate on regaining their health.

But football is everything to Darren a lifelong love affair that he’s determined to keep going.

Contrast his attitude with Jose Bosingwa of QPR. There’s nothing wrong with his health it’s his attitude that’s all wrong.

The Portuguese full-back was fined two weeks’ wages after refusing to sit on the bench for a match against Fulham.

Now he’s involved in a stand-off with the club, and is looking for his £80,000-a-week contract to be paid up.

Meanwhile, he sulks around the training ground and has been sent to work-out with the kids.

Darren Fletcher will be making a fantastic living with Manchester United, but you just know he’s the type who would play for nothing.

During his early days at Old Trafford, he had plenty of critics who didn’t think he was up to the task.

But he refused to give up, and Fergie never lost faith in his player.

It would have been easy to move to a club with a lower profile and earn a decent wage without the pressure and scrutiny that comes with life at Manchester United.

Darren ignored the snipers, stuck to the task and became the heartbeat of the Reds’ engine-room in midfield.

So you can be sure that Sir Alex will give him every chance to overcome this latest battle.

You’d like to think every manager would support a loyal servant through something like this, but I’m not sure they all would.

Some would look to move on a player at the first sign of any persistent health problem.

Fletcher is battling for his footballing future, while Bosingwa arrogantly holds out for an £8-million pay-off.

I know who I want to succeed!