THE DAZ CHALLENGE

Fletcher's hotline to Fergie as he looks to rise to occasion and clean up at Clarets

- BY TYRONE MARSHALL

DARREN FLETCHER sought the blessing of Sir Alex Ferguson before taking the role as Manchester United's interim head coach - and he has already reached out to sacked predecessor Ruben Amorim.

Fletcher, 41, revealed the first phone call he made after being offered the role on Monday morning was to his former boss Fergie, 84, seeking the legendary United manager's guidance on whether he should accept it.

He spent 20 years at Old Trafford, from the academy to the first team, with 18 of those years under the guidance of Ferguson, who remains a regular at United games and at Carrington.

Fergie was at the 1-1 draw with Leeds on Sunday, which proved to be Amorim's final game in charge, and when Fletcher called he echoed the sentiments his ex-midfielder had about the task at hand.

Fletcher said: "I don't like to make any major decisions or things without speaking to Sir Alex. That's something I have done since I've been at the club and since I've left the club and everything I do.