Tevez did not play following a family bereavement and Fletcher admitted the Reds missed the in-form striker's cut and thrust.

He told MUTV: "Carlos was frightening in pre-season - he looked so sharp. It was disappointing to lose him as he was onto something special and playing really well. But he'll be back.

"We have a shortage of numbers up front and we're missing a lot of players generally, but those players will return and we'll have a formidable squad."