Scotland international midfielder Darren Fletcher is suffering from a serious abdominal health condition that means he will be taking an extended layoff from competing.
A Manchester United spokesman told BBC Sport that Fletcher “had accepted medical advice to take an extended break.” The Old Trafford source also added that Fletcher was taking the action “in order to afford the best chance possible of achieving full remission once again.”
The loss of Fletcher is yet another blow to a United team that is also missing fellow midfielders Tom Cleverley and Anderson. The defensive duo of Rio Ferdinand and captain Nemanja Vidic have also suffered injury problems this season, while striker Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez is ruled out for another three weeks.
While United fans will want to see their club strengthen during the January transfer window, the thoughts of many will be focused on Fletcher achieving a full and safe recovery.
The condition Fletcher is suffering is known as ulcerative colitis, and is a chronic inflammatory bowel condition. Other famous athletes to have suffered the illness include five-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Steve Redgrave, and former England rugby captain Lewis Moody. Fletcher will be hoping to recover and manage the illness as those two did.
Fletcher missed a large part of last season’s run-in due to this illness, but returned to the United team in September. He has been in and out of the team this season due to the illness, and last scored during the 1-1 UEFA Champions League draw against Benfica.
Fletcher described his illness this week when speaking to The Sun newspaper.
“I had a bad virus, a stomach infection,” said the Scottish international. “The biggest thing was the weight loss. I lost a stone (14 lbs), which for someone like me is massive. Building my strength back up and putting my weight back on was a real struggle. I was stuck in bed for two weeks.”
The Scottish national team will also miss Fletcher, as the hard working midfielder was set to be a cornerstone of their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The thoughts and prayers of fans all over the world will be with Fletcher on his path to recovery, and Michael Owen spoke for many of them with the following post on his twitter site:
“Wishing Fletch all the best in his recovery. #topbloke”
The loss of Fletcher is yet another blow to a United team that is also missing fellow midfielders Tom Cleverley and Anderson. The defensive duo of Rio Ferdinand and captain Nemanja Vidic have also suffered injury problems this season, while striker Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez is ruled out for another three weeks.
While United fans will want to see their club strengthen during the January transfer window, the thoughts of many will be focused on Fletcher achieving a full and safe recovery.
The condition Fletcher is suffering is known as ulcerative colitis, and is a chronic inflammatory bowel condition. Other famous athletes to have suffered the illness include five-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Steve Redgrave, and former England rugby captain Lewis Moody. Fletcher will be hoping to recover and manage the illness as those two did.
Fletcher missed a large part of last season’s run-in due to this illness, but returned to the United team in September. He has been in and out of the team this season due to the illness, and last scored during the 1-1 UEFA Champions League draw against Benfica.
Fletcher described his illness this week when speaking to The Sun newspaper.
“I had a bad virus, a stomach infection,” said the Scottish international. “The biggest thing was the weight loss. I lost a stone (14 lbs), which for someone like me is massive. Building my strength back up and putting my weight back on was a real struggle. I was stuck in bed for two weeks.”
The Scottish national team will also miss Fletcher, as the hard working midfielder was set to be a cornerstone of their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The thoughts and prayers of fans all over the world will be with Fletcher on his path to recovery, and Michael Owen spoke for many of them with the following post on his twitter site:
“Wishing Fletch all the best in his recovery. #topbloke”
