Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has spoken to Aston Villa's Barry Bannan since his late-night motorway crash.

It saw Aston Villa hit him with a suspension before Craig Levein axed him from his squad for tonight's friendly in Cyprus.

Fletcher said of his Scotland teammate: "I spoke to Barry and basically just told him to learn from this. That's all anyone can say.

"He's made his mistake and it's up to him to make sure it doesn't happen again. What's happened doesn't make him a bad player and I reiterated that to him.

"But the important thing is learning from what's happened and making sure it doesn't happen again. You don't want things like this affecting your football either. He was very humble when I spoke to him and realises the mistake he's made.

"He's hoping to put it behind him and progress in the way we all want him to progress as a top player. I'm certain he'll come back from this. He's a chirpy, cheeky chappy but by all accounts he's been a lot quieter in the last few weeks as he's reflected on things.

"But I'm sure through time he'll get back to the same chirpy character we all know and love. He has to make sure this doesn't affect him on the pitch. I think he was desperate to be with us. But this reiterates to other players that if you don't behave in a certain way then you're going to miss out on international games.

"It's going to cost you. Barry will be back in the squads, I've no doubts about that. He's a top player who is going through a hard time just now, but we're all behind him and support him.

"He's an important player for us."