Man United's Fletcher confident of returning next season

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher expects to return from a chronic bowel condition next season.

The Scotland international has not played since November 22 due to ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease.

Fletcher, 27, has yet to return to training and has instead taken over some of the coaching responsibilities fellow United midfielder Paul Scholes gave up when he was called out of retirement by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I'm still not ready to come back playing or training yet but I'm listening to the medical people and trying to get myself right," Fletcher told BBC Scotland's Sportscene programme.

"The challenge and the focus is to be ready for next season.

"Me and the medical team decided it'd be best if I tried to get myself right and take an extended period out from the game; then come back fully fit and ready to play.

"It's an unpredictable illness and you don't know what lies ahead of you. But I've got to keep staying strong and keep believing. That's an important side of it: positive thinking.

"I've received great support from everyone in Scotland and down in Manchester. I'm hopeful and really positive that I'll be back and back to my best."

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