DARREN FLETCHER is in line to return as Scotland captain in the friendly against Poland on March 5 - 16 months after last playing for his country.

In the interim, the Manchester United midfielder has been fighting the debilitating condition, ulcerative colitis. But, Fletcher has now battled his way back to fitness and the Old Trafford starting XI.

Scotland boss Gordon Strachan will be delighted to name the 30-year-old today in the squad for next month's match in Warsaw. It will be the first time 61-cap Fletcher has played under Strachan, who replaced Craig Levein 13 months ago.

The national team boss has kept in close contact with the player for the past year, and previously invited him to meet up with the squad ahead of a game.

Fletcher's No.1 career aim, as he came to terms with the severe condition, was to regain his spot in the United side.

Next on his list was returning to lead his country, and stand-in skipper Scott Brown will be more than happy to hand over the armband.

As revealed in SportTimes yesterday, Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley will also be returning after being out for almost two years. He will be joined by his Black Cats team-mate Steven Fletcher despite the striker's ongoing problem with an Achilles' tendon injury.

Dundee United full-back Andrew Robertson will receive his first call-up to the full squad, while Aberdeen pair Mark Reynolds and Peter Pawlett may have to wait a little longer.

Strachan is expected to monitor them for a while longer before introducing them to the squad he is building for the 2016 European Championships - the qualifying draw for which takes place this weekend.

But, Strachan did not want to wait any longer before getting captain Fletcher back into the fold.

And, as the player has admitted, this squad has been in his sights for some time.

However, Fletcheraccepts he still has a way to go and said: "I may have to wait for my chance.

"I may just get in the squad and sit on the bench, but I'm prepared for that. I just need to impress the new manager, like everyone else, and I'm more than willing to do that."

Former Celtic keeper Artur Boruc has been named in a strong Polish squad for this match, but the Southampton No.1 faces stiff competition from the Arsenal pair Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski.

Polish coach Adam Nawalka has also included Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski in his initial squad which will be completed next week.