Manchester United No2 Mike Phelan says fans must be patient over Darren Fletcher's comeback.

Scotland coach Craig Levein claimed that the 28-year-old has enjoyed a "dramatic improvement" in his fitness as he bids to return from ulerative colitis and is to link up with the squad purely to train ahead of an international friendly with Australia.

"Darren joined in for four or five days last week," Phelan told MUTV. "We decided that, if he felt well enough and felt good, we'd bring him into a training session.

"That's developed a little bit longer than what we actually thought. I don't know what the position is but if Scotland want to take him, it's probably just to be part of the squad and to introduce him back into that.

"But there's a long, long way yet for Darren Fletcher before we see him playing again."