Former skipper Darren Fletcher felt under-appreciated at West Brom

The 33-year-old, who made 97 appearances for Albion across two and a half seasons, joined the Potters on a free transfer at the start of the summer.

Fletcher didn't clarify whether that lack of appreciation came from within the club itself or not, but he did say Stoke boss Mark Hughes made him feel more wanted than he felt he was at The Hawthorns.

“I don’t want to criticise too many people at West Bromwich Albion because I’ve got a lot of time for them there but things happen in football,” Fletcher told The Premier League Show.

“I just felt like I wasn’t getting appreciated as much as I felt (I should have been) from difference areas. And I just felt like something new as well.”

Fletcher was an ever-present under Tony Pulis, and he triggered an option in his contract last season to extend his deal for another year.

He decided not to take it and joined Stoke on a two-year deal instead.

“My contract had a little clause in it that gave me the option whether to extend or not, in the player’s favour, which is a little bit unique,” said Fletcher.

“I explored my options and the first person who was keen straight away was ‘Sparky’, Mark Hughes.

“Knowing him, knowing his style of football, knowing the guy he is and knowing he played under Sir Alex Ferguson, I felt I could relate. I met him and that hit home straight away.

“He made me feel wanted. I think that’s the first thing for all players, the manager’s got to want you. Not just to be part of the squad.”

Fletcher returned to The Hawthorns in August when the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in just the third game of the season.

And the former skipper thanked the Baggies fans for his warm reception.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I got a fantastic reception, and that was nice,” he said.

“It doesn’t happen too often, I was only there for a short space of time, but thanks to the fans, I think they recognise how much I tried and what I did there. So it was great.”

The former Manchester United midfielder rebuilt his career at The Hawthorns.

Having battled back from ulcerative colitis, the Scotland international has now played 95 consecutive Premier League games.

“It’s 94 starts!” said Fletcher. “Tony left me out of one game. He must have sensed I was leaving, it was towards the end of the season, and he’s killed me. I think I was on course for some sort of record!”

The 33-year-old is contemplating a future career in coaching and already has his UEFA B licence.

But he wants to play for as long as he can and feels he has plenty more years left in the tank.

He’s dived head first into his new club, and even put his hand up to sing an initiation song, something he admittedly refused to do at the Baggies.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever sang actually,” he said. “You normally do it a new club. I didn’t do it at West Bromwich Albion, I was captain, I said ‘I’m not singing!’

“And then I came here and the other young lads were up singing and nobody had asked me, and I just thought, you know what, let’s embrace the culture.

“I’ve never done it in my career so I got up and sang a bit of Oasis, Wonderwall. I know it’s a Man City song so I’ve got to be careful, sorry United fans!”