Fletcher to take break from football

[Lazie]

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been forced to take an "extended break from football" due to concerns about his health, with the club revealing he has been suffering from chronic bowel problems.



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Fletcher, 27, missed two months of last season with a then-unspecified virus - which United have now revealed was ulcerative colitis - and when he returned to first-team action had lost a significant amount of weight.

The Scotland captain was also absent for part of pre-season training as he continued his recovery and has started just seven games this season.

With the condition taking a major physical toll on him and his long-term health a priority, Fletcher has been advised to stop training and playing for a sustained period.

A statement from United read: "On behalf of Darren Fletcher, Manchester United wishes to announce that he is taking an extended break from football for health reasons.

"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.

"Whilst he was able to maintain remission of symptoms for a considerable period this has proved more difficult recently and Darren's continued desire to play and his loyalty to both his club and country has probably compromised the chances of optimising his own health and fitness.

"He has therefore accepted medical advice to take an extended break from the demands of training and playing in order to afford the best chance possible of achieving full remission once again.

"We request that his privacy is respected and hope that the removal of the additional stress associated with speculation regarding his health will also aid his recovery."

[Lazie]

... Fergie must certainly consider going into the transfer market. If Carrick gets injuried ...what then?

[HL]

...what's the word on Anderson, Hernandez and Vidic?

Thanks in advance.

[Lazie]

...what's the word on Anderson, Hernandez and Vidic?

Thanks in advance.

Anderson is out until about Feb.
Hernandez out for 4 weeks. Means he will miss the hectic holiday period.
Vidic .... out for the rest of the season.

[HL]

thanks.

You are a fountain of information...

[Assasin]

Play Phil Jones in center mid.

[Scaly Spurs]

There are so many jokes in this stories..I'll leave you all

to make up your own.

Good Luck Fletcher, Fergie took you from average player to good.

[Bricktop]

Chronic bowel problems...what a sh!tty way to go out

[Jangle]

Well illness and injuries are forcing Fergie to get rid of some of the deadweight. Some of these players should have been sold a long time ago. Fergie's biggest strength as a coach/manager is to get average players to perform above their mediocre skill level for the sake of the team. Generally, it has worked and he has the trophies to show for it, but we are in the era of the big money owners now and we need to compete. We must hold Barcelona as the standard bearer and aim to get the quality players. And Mr. President, before you get defensive, consider this, how many of our players can get a starting position on any of the 5 top world club teams? Barcelona, RM, ManSh!tty (even though they haven't won sh!t as yet), AC Milan and Inter. Fergie waited too long to give some of these youths more playing time by holding on and being sentimental towards the older players. Now he's going to be forced to go into the market next month.