A return to action in the Capital One Cup and Champions League was welcomed after Fletcher had been out of action for 11 months with a chronic bowel condition that almost forced him to retire.
He is also back on the international scene with Scotland and looking forward to a return to Premier League action.
He said: “I know the manager has got such a big squad now, especially in the midfield area, and there is a lot of competition for places.
“I have to be patient and wait for my chances, but, hopefully, one will come round sooner rather than later. I think my general fitness is fine, it’s just match fitness.
“The sharpness, reaction times, things like that. The positional sense, when you’re a little bit older, comes back fairly quickly.”