Fletcher blow for United

Tuesday, 13/12/2011

Man United have been hit by a body blow with news that midfielder Darren Fletcher is having to take a break from football.

The Scotland star has been in and out of the Old Trafford side for the past 12 months with what was initially reported as a virus.

Now United have revealed that he is taking an "extended break" due to health reasons.

In a statement the club said: "Over the past year he has had several absence periods which we have attributed to a viral illness in order to respect his right to medical confidentiality. Darren has, in fact, been suffering from ulcerative colitis (a chronic inflammatory bowel condition) for some time preceding this."

Fletcher is the second key player boss Sir Alex Ferguson has lost within the space of a few days following the injury to captain and defender Nemanja Vidic.

Fletcher, under contract to 2015, has played just ten times for the club this season, eight of those appearances in the Premier League.

The 27-year-old has turned out five times for Scotland in the past year, taking his total of caps to 58.

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