Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher insists the English Premier League leaders will be desperate to prove their critics wrong when they return to domestic duty. The 25-year-old - who is currently with the Scotland squad ahead of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifiers against Holland and Iceland - admits successive losses to Liverpool and Fulham have been hard to stomach.

United now only lead Liverpool by one point, although they have a game in hand, and cracks seem to be appearing in Sir Alex Ferguson's side, with Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney having been red-carded in their last two matches. But Fletcher is confident they will get back to winning ways when they return from the international break against Aston Villa on 5 April.

It's easy saying it's only a blip, the hardest part is showing it's only a blip.
Darren Fletcher on Manchester United's recent wobbles.

"We would have liked a match straight away to respond to a couple of difficult games," Fletcher said. "Hopefully It's just a setback but it's easy talking about it, you have got to prove that on the pitch. We would have been desperate for another league game but unfortunately the international break has come along.

"But I'm sure Liverpool would have wanted the league campaign to continue so it's something we will just have to deal with it," he added. "It's easy saying it's only a blip, the hardest part is showing it's only a blip. We will all be desperate when we get back to prove that. And I'm sure we will get back to winning ways."

The United ace has been a consistent performer this season and he admits he is enjoying one of the best campaigns of his career. "On a personal level it's going well," the Scot remarked. "I've played a lot more games than last season and that was the aim for me. When you get a run of games, your form improves and that's something I have noticed. Sometimes it's hard to come straight back into the team when you haven't played for a couple of weeks."