Ryan made right decision - Fletcher

Giggs, who will be 36 on November 29, decided to focus on his club career by retiring from Wales duty in 2007, but recently revealed his hopes to manage the national team one day when his Old Trafford days are over.

In contrast, Scotland captain Fletcher hopes to make many more appearances for his own national team - beginning with Saturday's clash at the Cardiff City Stadium - but he can fully appreciate the choice made by Giggs, who won 64 caps.

"You can understand where he was coming from," said Fletcher.

"Ryan gave a good service to Wales. He was a great ambassador.

"He had a lot of well-documented injury problems at the time and I think for him, to benefit his club career, which is his bread and butter, he retired from international football.

"I'm sure he didn't want to but he felt that was the right option.

"I think you can see from his form, maybe at the age he is at now, maybe he has benefited from the breaks when the internationals come around.

"He is not having to put his body through it. He is getting that week's rest every couple of months and I think his form has shown it has definitely helped him."

Giggs continues to be the role model to every single player at Manchester United, according to Fletcher.

"We all look to what he has achieved in the game and the appearances he has had and the medals he has won," he said.

"It's his determination to do it again. He has won everything in the game and he wants to do it again and again and again.

"He is the inspiration to everyone in that squad - myself, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick.

"We all want to get to his level, we all want to achieve what he has achieved, we want as many medals and trophies as he's had.

"I'm not saying we will do that but he is definitely our inspiration to do that."