Man Utd's Fletcher out of US tour

LONDON (AFP) - Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher was on Saturday ruled out of the club's pre-season tour of the United States.

The Scottish international, who missed most of United's title run-in last season after being struck by a debilitating virus, is to remain in Manchester in order to work on his fitness ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Fletcher, 26, hopes to be fit in time for Paul Scholes' testimonial at Old Trafford on August 5, where United face the New York Cosmos, or the Community Shield meeting with Manchester City two days later.

"Darren will remain at Carrington to undergo an individualised conditioning programme given he missed a large proportion of last season," a United spokesman said.

"This will help him catch up fitness-wise to the levels of the rest of the team. We tried to accelerate things but we want to give him the best opportunity to be fully fit for the new season.

"We feel a reduction in the amount of time Darren spends travelling will help him achieve this."

United's touring squad will include new signing Ashley Young, although recent acquisitions David de Gea and Phil Jones, who will wear one and four respectively, have been given an extended break and will join later in the tour.

United kick off their tour against New England Revolution in Boston on Wednesday before heading to Seattle, Chicago, New Jersey and Washington.