IT seems almost perverse to say so but leaving Manchester United for West Bromwich Albion may be the best thing that could have happened to Darren Fletcher.

After spending the best part of two decades at Old Trafford, moving on was always going to prove a wrench for the 31 year-old but his decision to make the switch to The Hawthorns last month was one taken with a pragmatic head on. Having featured only sporadically under new United manager Louis van Gaal this season, Fletcher realised he needed to be playing more regularly and that at West Brom he would almost be guaranteed to do that. If it meant swallowing his pride and dropping to the bottom end of the Barclays Premier League then so be it.

United did the decent thing and didn't ask for a transfer fee allowing Fletcher to make the move on deadline day for nothing. Coincidentally, his new side haven't lost in the three matches in which he has featured, two battling away draws sandwiching a home win over Swansea City (he was ineligible for the FA Cup win over West Ham United).

Alongside him each step of the way has been a familiar face. James Morrison has been at West Brom for seven-and-a-half years now and was pressed into action by manager Tony Pulis when it became apparent that Fletcher was going to be allowed to leave Old Trafford. Morrison is coy about just how he managed to persuade his Scotland team-mate to join West Brom ahead of other suitors - "I had my ways", he laughs - but whatever he said, his words clearly carried sufficient weight. Fletcher will be a West Brom player for the next two-and-a-half years, with an option for a further 12 months, and already Morrison believes the whole club is benefiting from his presence and experience.

"I've known Darren for a long time and I know what he's all about," said Morrison, speaking courtesy of Vauxhall, sponsors of the Scotland team. "When I heard there was a chance of him coming, I was on the phone to him, trying to get him here. I want to play with good players and Darren is certainly that.

"He has got a load of caps and experience. He has played at the highest level. He is a real leader and a real gent and he's got the respect of everyone in the squad. He leads by example and does everything right. That rubs off on all of us. Darren was at one of the best clubs in the world so it was a big coup for West Brom to get him. It shows he just wanted to play football."

Such was Fletcher's reputation that he was appointed club captain not long after arriving. The decision was instantly accepted by his new team-mates.

"Some people are born captains, really," added Morrison. "We have got a good bunch of lads at West Brom, so that respect was there. It was up to the manager to change the captaincy and we got on with it. Darren has been great since he arrived and has settled in fantastically well. He has already been getting the lads together so he has done a good job so far.

"He hasn't really changed things. He has just been himself. He leads the lads out, shouts orders and gets us up for games. When he has settled a bit more, then I'm sure he will further stamp his authority in terms of what he wants at the club. On the pitch, he brings so much experience and energy. Obviously, the players we have in the West Brom midfield are all experienced but I think Darren's presence rubs off on the other lads. It gets us playing well."

It remains something of a miracle that Fletcher is playing at all. Sidelined with the debilitating condition ulcerative colitis, the midfielder played only sporadically for several years. There will always be speculation as to whether he can recapture the form that would have seen him play in two Champions League finals were it not for a cruel suspension and then illness, but Morrison believes Fletcher's best is not far away.

"I've been in Darren's shoes when you have had a long lay-off. And it is games you need to get you back to where you were. The more games Darren plays, the more his level will rise, as will his fitness and confidence. A fit Darren is a really good player. Your fitness drops when you've had a long lay-off but Darren will be charging about pressing the opposition. Just give him a few more games under his belt and he'll be back to his best. I know what type of character he is so I have no doubts about that."

The pair could be lining up together again in a Scotland shirt next month as the European Championship qualifying campaign gets back underway with a home match against minnows Gibraltar. A positive start to Group D has left the Scots in good shape to reach France 2016 and Morrison is keeping his fingers crossed it comes to fruition.

"For me it would be a dream come true to play in a major tournament," he admitted. "The biggest thing, though, is getting there. We've had a great start but that's all it is. We've got a long way to go. But I sense everyone is together and pulling in the right direction."