Man United´s Fletcher warns of Wolves threat

Darren Fletcher has admitted that Manchester United’s players are already thinking ahead to next week’s eagerly-awaited derby with Manchester City.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Saturday before a mouth-watering Manchester derby at the City of Manchester Stadium next Wednesday.

Fletcher revealed that the City match was already playing on the minds of the United players even though they have an important game with Wolves first.

But United’s Scotland international insisted that it was vital the team, who start the weekend in third spot, five points behind leaders Chelsea, go into their biggest match of the campaign with another win behind them.

That would ensure United face their city rivals on the back of six successive wins in all competitions.

“Obviously we are aware the Manchester City game is next midweek and everyone will have it in the back of their minds,” said Fletcher.

“But it cannot become any more than that.

“Wolves is also a massive game because it is the next one. And three points then would set us up nicely for what is to follow.”

Ferguson saw his side move to within a point of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Turkish champions Bursaspor in midweek.

But the victory came at a cost with both Fletcher and Nani, who has been in exceptional form this season, suffering ankle and groin injuries respectively.

Both players are likely to be missing against Wolves while Ferguson is also expected to make sweeping changes after fielding a young side in Turkey.

Goalscorers Bebe and Gabriel Obertan are likely to make way along with defender Chris Smalling as Rio Ferdinand, Javier Hernandez and Park Ji-Sung all eye returns for Wolves’ second visit to Old Trafford in 11 days.

Mick McCarthy’s side gave a good account of themselves before being knocked out of the League Cup last month courtesy of Hernandez’s last minute goal.

McCarthy has been backed by Ferguson this week, with the United boss defending Wolves manager in the wake of Danny Murphy’s recent rant on bad tackles.

But McCarthy is determined to risk his friendship by landing a major blow on Ferguson as the United manager attempts to land another title.

Wolves have only won twice in the league this season but are snarling again after their impressive 2-1 victory over Manchester City last weekend.

And McCarthy – whose team face Arsenal next Wednesday – is in the mood for another upset.

“It’s alright upsetting them, you’ve got to really upset them and take something off them – and wouldn’t they be nice back-to-back results?,” said McCarthy.

“Seriously, why shouldn’t we get any points out of them?

“They’ll have had us watched last Saturday and will know it won’t be easy. We upset Tottenham for 75 minutes and Chelsea for 80 minutes.

“We did it last Saturday against City and the previous Tuesday against United.

“The result last Saturday helped do a whole lot for self-belief and confidence. No matter what you do if you keep getting beat you start to wonder where the results are going to come from.

“We’ve been playing well without getting the results and we needed to keep it going.”