Man Utd News: Darren Fletcher Out For Rest Of The Season
BBC. The 28-year old Scottish international had to take an extended break from the game back in December 2011 after being blighted by ulcerative colitis, but managed to recover from the ailment enough to make 13 appearances for club and country upon his return this season. His last outing was in the 4-3 victory against Newcastle United as an 89th minute substitute on Boxing Day, but he is set to take another break from the game after undergoing surgery in a bid to rid himself of the condition once and for all. A club statement on Manchester United's official website reads:
Darren Fletcher will be unavailable for the remainder of this season having undergone surgery to resolve his Ulcerative Colitis condition. We wish to stress this was a planned procedure undertaken at the optimal time having achieved a period of sustained good general health, as illustrated by the fact that Darren has trained with the team regularly this season and been available for selection right up to the operation. Whilst it is frustrating for both Darren and the Club that he wont be able to contribute further during this campaign, this decision has been taken with our full support in the best interests of his long-term health and we look forward to him returning next season with this problem firmly behind him. We would be grateful if his privacy could be respected at this time and in the coming months in order to aid his recuperation.Fletcher, who is contracted to the Red Devils until 2015, has won four Premier League titles with the club as well as the UEFA Champions League, a competition of which he made his first appearance for United in, against Basel in 2003.