World Cup qualifying: Darren Fletcher is struggling to adjust to changing times. The Scotland and Manchester United midfielder is only slowly coming to terms with his national team's sudden resurgence, but he is clearly not ready to contemplate life at Old Trafford without Roy Keane just yet.

"It's so hard to do without him. He's such a great player, I'd love to see him spend a few more years at United and finish his career there."

Coming from one who would be king, such desperation for Keane to postpone his plans to leave the eight-times Premiership champions at the end of the current campaign seems significant. Fletcher has grown up in the Irishman's shadow, his game developing so rapidly at club level with Keane at his side that Scotland will rely heavily upon the 21-year-old as their pursuit of a World Cup qualifying play-off place reaches critical point against Belarus on Saturday.

Keane's departure would free up a midfield berth and surely offer more regular first-team opportunities, but Fletcher would rather see his game progress further under his captain's influence.

"At first he'd give me bits of advice but, over the last two years since I've been in the first-team, I just sit back and watch him: how he prepares himself for games, where he positions himself during matches, that sort of thing," said Fletcher, speaking at the Scotland squad's team hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond.

"He is the best trainer at the club and is brilliant in practice games; no one can get near him.

"It's clear we are not totally comfortable with his absence yet. When Roy Keane is not there for United, we miss that natural leader. It's hard to do without him and, when it falls to someone else to stand in - whether it's myself, Alan Smith or Paul Scholes - we know we will not replace Roy. We can only hope to be as effective as we can.

"Whoever comes into the team always faces the same label: 'It's not Roy Keane.' I don't think that feeling will be dispelled until we win a few trophies without him. I know he's 34 now and people are wondering whether he has another two seasons left in him, but that would be no problem for Roy. I have heard all the speculation about where he is supposed to be going when he leaves Old Trafford, but I'd just love to see him stay."

Fletcher's influence upon Scotland is more pronounced than it is with United and alongside Barry Ferguson, Nigel Quashie and Paul Hartley, the United midfielder will hope to snuff out Belarus at Hampden Park. The Scots need to win their remaining two qualifiers - they travel to Slovenia next week - and hope Norway fail to win one of their final two matches to finish second and qualify for a play-off place. The staggering revival under Walter Smith has been noted in the dressing-room at Old Trafford.

"People remember Walter from the few months he spent with us as assistant to Sir Alex two seasons' ago. He came across so well - he was very hands-on and came right in, unconcerned about reputations, to tell people what he wanted.

"Everyone took to him, just as they have with Scotland. We've got a chance here now and the excitement is starting to get to everyone. The fans keep telling us we're going to Germany. But Belarus are a quality side, technically one of the best teams I have played against, and they have players of the quality of (Arsenal's) Alexander Hleb . . So we're trying to keep everyone calm. All that matters on Saturday is winning and keeping the momentum going towards the Slovenia match."

Such a warning rang almost Keane-esque.

Guardian Service