UPDATE 1-Soccer-Ferguson blasts friendlies after Fletcher injury

(adds Wenger comments paragraphs 7-11)

By Pete Oliver

MANCHESTER, England March 28 (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson branded international friendlies at this stage of the season futile on Friday after losing midfielder Darren Fletcher to an injury sustained on Scotland duty.

Fletcher damaged knee ligaments towards the end of Scotland's 1-1 draw against Croatia on Wednesday and will be out of action for six weeks, which could end his involvement in United's Premier League title bid.

"It was a bad blow with Darren Fletcher, which to me just emphasises the futility of playing these friendly games. It's crazy. We have lost him for six weeks now," Ferguson told reporters.

A long-standing opponent of international friendly fixtures, Ferguson added: "He went up there recovering from a bad chest cold and missed our game last Sunday because of that.

"He turns out and plays for his country and should have only played for 45-60 minutes at the most but played the full game and got injured in the last minute.

"It's crazy and supporters will stop going to these kind of games anyway, paying all that money and travelling. I think every manager knows, deep down, that they are a waste of time."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger questioned the future of friendlies, saying the public wanted to watch matches with a competitive edge.