THE dark moments for Darren Fletcher are private, personal.

He runs near his home at night, hat pulled down to preserve anonymity while outstripping the dogs in the park. He trains in the gym in his house, hammering out the miles on his treadmill, eyes staring ahead, focused on ending an episode that has blighted, even threatened his career.

The bright moments come when he is sitting with his father in front of the telly and hears Sir Alex Ferguson, after his last home match as manager of Manchester United, wish him a speedy recovery to the team after his trials with bowel condition ulcerative colitis.

"I was sitting on the couch with my dad," Fletcher says. "I was just blown away. For him, at that moment, to take the time to think and to speak of me was fantastic and it just shows the measure of the man I have been dealing with all my career. It speaks volumes of him to think of other people when the whole occasion was about him.

"It was just one of those moments that shocks you. It was emotional. More than anything it gave me a great determination to come back. Him speaking like that - and everything he has done for you - you want to get back as a thank you almost to him and to the club for the way they have been with me."

Ferguson has kept in contact, calling his former player a few weeks back. "It is Sir Alex Ferguson phoning and thinking of you again," says Fletcher. "And these moments are inspirational - there is no other way to describe it and he is not speaking as someone who is my manager any longer. He is speaking as someone who cares, and who believes in me as well. It gives me great belief in getting back, and not only getting back, but getting back to a level that I believe I am capable of being at."

Fletcher adds with a smile: "It was a bit of a catch-up to see how I was and a pep talk, as always. I don't think he can help himself."

The 29-year-old Scotland internationalist embraces such inspiration. He has played just 13 games since announcing he was taking an extended break from football in November 2011 after he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He has undergone operations, the last of which took place in January, and been put on a dietary regime in a bid to correct his condition and allow him to resume playing duties.

He spoke at Hampden yesterday of how such as Craig Levein, Billy Stark and Gordon Strachan had all phoned to offer support. "Every time I come off the phone speaking to him I am lifted because he's that sort of character," he says of the Scotland manager. "If he's doing that for me over the phone then I'd like to think what he's doing for players in meetings and on the training pitch."

Fletcher knows, however, that his illness has been an individual trial, though its impact can have some light-hearted moments, particularly when his six-year-old twins, Jack and Tyler, ask their dad why he is slipping down the rankings in the FIFA computer games.

"They're really starting to understand and enjoy football. I want them to be coming to places like here at Hampden to watch their dad play," he says.

Fletcher had initially targeted next week's friendly match against England as his comeback but his training has not yet included physical contact. "I'm so jealous of the lads who are going to be in the starting XI for the match against England, it's everyone's dream to play in a match like that," says Fletcher, acting as an unofficial spokesperson for a generation of Scottish players who have been denied the chance to play against the Auld Enemy at Wembley.

"You're always looking for stuff in your career to achieve; games you want to play in, stadiums you want to play in and that's definitely up there," adds Fletcher, who admitted the match did not hold quite the same importance for English players, though he disclosed Wayne Rooney was a big fan of Celtic-Rangers matches.

He was visiting Hampden to speak to the 110 boys and girls who make up this year's intake for the Regional Performance Schools. He was besieged by questioners, answering affably with tales of Kaka and Lionel Messi.

"This sort of programme means a lot to me because it gives the kids a fantastic opportunity," he says. "It's a 10-year programme and then we will see the fruits of that. Hopefully the end result is better players for the national team."

It is part of the Fletcher DNA to be so positive and he admitted this bright optimism helped him through the dark days. "It's the only way to deal with it. If I want to get back to the level I was at then I have to have positivity and belief," he says.

"Although physically, it was maybe dragging me down at times, psychologically - the biggest side of it - I conquered it. I still am conquering it and I still will have to conquer it. I've full belief I will be back and back to a level that I was at before. I will be back."

The boys and girls milling around him yesterday were understandably interested in the Ronaldo stepover, the Paul Scholes pass or the surge from Messi. Fletcher told all to the aspiring players who were delighted by his tales. They cannot fail to be inspired by his example.