DARREN FLETCHER has been named in Manchester United’s squad for their Champions League group stage campaign, and their 25-man Premier League squad for the period up to the January transfer window.

Scotland midfielder Fletcher has fought back from the career-threatening illness that has sidelined him from first-team action since November last year.

He played two games for United reserves recently and manager Alex Ferguson indicated last week he would be included in the club’s Champions League plans.

Fletcher, who has been plagued by a chronic bowel condition, was due to train with Scotland this week ahead of their opening World Cup qualifiers.

Ferguson said last week: “Darren’s put a lot of weight back on. He’s back to his normal weight from two or three years ago. It’s a case of wait and see.

“But Darren comes into the 25-man squad quite easily, without me having to leave others out because we have a number of players who we don’t need to register because of the time they’ve spent with us as an academy player.

“That’s an advantage. He’s training well every day and played really well the other night for the under-21s.”

Meanwhile, Kolo Toure was left in Champions League limbo after being left out of Manchester City’s squad for the group stage of the competition.

And the defender also failed to complete a move to Galatasaray in time to be named among their 25-man submission to Uefa.

Toure has reportedly been in talks with the Turkish giants about a move ahead of their country’s transfer deadline tomorrow night.

Florent Malouda could be the latest player to leave Chelsea after he was left out of their Champions League squad. There is a real prospect of Malouda being sold or loaned out in the near future, either way effectively ending his five-year Stamford Bridge career.