Darren Fletcher gets first taste of management as Man Utd sack Ruben Amorim

Darren Fletcher will finally get the chance to scratch the itch of management as the academy graduate prepares to lead Manchester United – and his twin boys – as caretaker boss.

Ruben Amorim’s sacking as Old Trafford boss after 14 months has seen the 41-year-old former midfielder parachuted into the hotseat for Wednesday’s Premier League trip to struggling Burnley.

It is the latest chapter in Fletcher’s long association with United, whose sons Jack and Tyler have been on the bench in recent matches and seen the former make three substitute appearances.

Returning players may restrict opportunities under their father – who made 342 appearances for the Red Devils, winning trophies aplenty, before returning in 2020 to work within the academy as he “really got the bug” for coaching.

Speaking to the Press Association in August 2020, Fletcher said: “I’ve always wanted to stay in football. I’ve always had that goal and ambition.

“Management is something that does really, really interest me in the future. Not that I want to think about doing it (right now).

“I think the itch will need to be itched at some point, if you know what I mean, if the opportunity arises.

“But for me just now it’s about taking some time from not being a player and getting myself mentally prepared for my next whatever it is, my next challenge in life, in football.”

Self-confessed football obsessive Fletcher wanted to take his time after he “slipped into the retirement world” as he got used to life without playing and tried different parts of the industry.

The former midfielder did some coaching at his former club West Brom, in the under-23s and below, as he worked on his badges and did media work before the coronavirus pandemic interrupted things.

“I feel