Captain Fletcher makes Scotland Euro squad

Posted Friday, August 26, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher captains Scotland in their two Euro 2012 qualifiers next week, his first international appearance this year after he was sidelined by illness.

Manager Craig Levein named Fletcher in his 25-man squad to face the Czech Republic on September 3 and Lithuania on September 6 in their bid to make the finals of the European tournament in Poland and Ukraine next year.

Levein said Fletcher is "100 percent" fit and ready to play both matches.

"I'm thrilled," he said. "He's arguably our best player and a perfect role model and example to the rest of the guys in the squad."

Scotland are fighting to win second place behind the Group I leaders, world and european champions Spain. Levein hailed Scotland's 2-1 friendly win over Denmark earlier this month as a sign of progress.

Fletcher, 27, has not played for his country so far in 2011 after being struck down by a virus that kept him out for two months between early March and early May.

He suffered a relapse in the summer and missed his club's pre-season tour of the United States, but has been confirmed for the United Squad to face Arsenal on Sunday.

Celtic winger Kris Commons, who missed the Denmark match with a foot injury but has since returned to club action, failed to make the squad for next week's games.

Scotland squad

Goalkeepers: Matthew Gilks (Blackpool/ENG), Allan McGregor (Rangers), Iain Turner (Preston/ENG)

Defenders: Phillip Bardsley (Sunderland/ENG), Christophe Berra (Wolves/ENG), Gary Caldwell (Wigan/ENG), Stephen Crainey (Blackpool/ENG), Grant Hanley (Blackburn/ENG), Alan Hutton (Tottenham/ENG), Steven Whittaker (Rangers), Danny Wilson (Liverpool/ENG)

Midfielders: Charlie Adam (Liverpool/ENG), Barry Bannan (Aston Villa/ENG), Scott Brown (Celtic), Don Cowie (Cardiff/WAL), Graham Dorrans (West Brom/ENG), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United/ENG), James Forrest (Celtic), James Morrison (West Brom/ENG), Steven Naismith (Rangers), Barry Robson (Middlesbrough/ENG), Robert Snodgrass (Leeds/ENG)

Forwards: David Goodwillie (Blackburn/ENG), Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton/ENG), Kenny Miller (Cardiff/WAL)