SCOTLAND assistant boss Mark McGhee today told Darren Fletcher he can resurrect his international career -by quitting Manchester United.

Central midfielder Fletcher has only started four games for the Old Trafford club under new Dutch manager Louis van Gaal so far this season.

The 30-year-old has lost his place in the national side he used to captain as a result of his lack of first-team involvement with United.

And there is speculation he will look to move on - either on loan or permanently - in order to get a regular game during the January transfer window.

McGhee has urged the player, who suffers from ulcerative colitis and spent the first half of last season out of action, to think hard about leaving the Reds.

But he has told the 66-times capped star he can go from strength to strength and reclaim his Scotland place by moving to another club.

He said: "I don't know Darren as well as some of the other players. He's not been with us as much as I would have liked him to have been. I am only getting to know him.

"But I think that, more than anything, the thing he enjoys is playing. He is a good trainer, but he likes playing. Therefore I don't think he is a lad who wants to be sitting on the bench.

"But it is a hugely difficult thing to leave a club like Manchester United. I think we've just got to trust him to make the call when he's ready.

"Other players have done it and gone on to do brilliantly. (Phil) Neville at Everton, for instance. The boys at Sunderland, (Wes) Brown and (John) O'Shea.

"They have made good careers at other clubs. At some point he might have to bite the bullet and go and do that. Then he will be a great player at another club."

Meanwhile, McGhee has expressed his amazement that no English Premier League club has made a bid to land Scotland winger Ikechi Anya yet.

Watford player Anya was watched by Crystal Palace, where Alan Pardew took over earlier this month, against Charlton Athletic at the weekend.

The 27-year-old has been outstanding for his adopted homeland since being called up to the national team and netted a wonder goal against world champions German in September.

McGhee said: "I am always surprised about him because he doesn't even play every week. I can never understand that. I know Gordon (Strachan) is the same. We scratch our heads.

"The boy is brilliant when he's with us in every sense - his training, his attitude. I am always first up in the morning and am in the breakfast room first, the next guy to come through the door is Jim Stewart and the next guy after that is Ikechi. Every morning.

"And he has always got that smile on his face. He is happy with life and he is brilliant around the place. I am sure he is the same at Watford. He is a really positive influence on everybody.

"Why they're not banging the door down to take him I don't know. It wouldn't surprise me at all if somebody who was more astute said: 'We'll have a wee go with him'. Clubs are all looking for that player who can go buy somebody."