Darren Fletcher's break from football

[Maciej]

Fletcher takes a break

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.

Darren Fletcher takes break for health reasons - Official Manchester United Website

 

[bananaman]

This is terrible, best wishes to him. A friend of mine has Crohns and its a bastard of a thing to deal with. I cant imagine being a sportsman with it.

 

[beycont]

That's sad news, hope he recovers and we will see him again in United colours.

 

[Wowi]

Not Crohn's disease as rumoured at least. Hope he recovers from this. Question is then, will he be able to get back to his best? He's already been out since Spring, and this "extended break" could very likely last for the rest of the season I'd think - at least a few months.

 

[Carl]

 

[heightmassive]

Anyone got a spare pair of boots?

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

Get well soon Darren

 

[Hans Moleman]

Fergie Fergie open your wallet

 

[Boss]

Get well.

 

[Robbie Boy]

I have very little understanding of this disease.

Anyone out there with more knowledge than me, do you think that he can come back from this and play for us again? Are there any other professional sports players out there that are known to suffer from this?

 

[Ralaks]

Hope he makes a full recovery, must be horrible for the lad :/

 

[Ole's_toe_poke]

Really sad for Darren. He's just not looked good since the illness.

Probably for the best.

 

[I'm always right]

Absolutely gutting.

He was superb the season before all this began, I thought that season was maybe a flash in the pan, now I'm thinking I was wrong, seems like this illness hit him just as he reached his peak.

Sad news, and another midfielder down

 

[ha_rooney]

Get well soon Fletch.

 

[johnmufc]

It's not fair.

 

[Carl]

Ulcerative colitis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Godfather]

fecking hell. Get well soon Darren

 

[charleysurf]

Really sad for Darren. He's just not looked good since the illness.

Probably for the best.

Yeah, he wasn´t himself at all. The worry would be that this is something he´ll never get fully beyond though.

Fergie will have to buy in CM in January now, even if its only a stopgap measure.

 

[Black Adder]

Sad news, hope he makes full recovery.

 

[The Taurean]

good on the lad to carry on. hope he gets well soon.

 

[SharkyMcShark]

Get well soon Fletch

I reckon its approaching the stage where I'd get a run in United's midfield now

 

[Minkaro]

Get well soon, Darren.

 

[charleysurf]

Club is cursed lately.

 

[Solius]

feck, poor guy. Wish him the best.

We have to buy a fecking midfielder.

 

[Mr Anderson]

Poor fletch. It was actually scary how much weight he lost end of last season. I remember his return for the Everton game at OT last season, and he was as thin as feck.

Wish him the best in his recovery.

 

[Amir]

Poor lad. Hope he recovers and comes back from it - and comes back well. Somehow it seems his career has only just started a couple of years ago.

As for us, well, we're in trouble.

 

[Devil may care]

That's horrible news for Fletcher, I mean forget football I just hope he can get past this for his quality of life as I imagine it's incredibly unpleasant and painful.

 

[lynchie]

Poor guy, it sounds terrible

Some information here Ulcerative colitis - PubMed Health for those who would like to be better informed.

 

[Amir]

OK, who did this to Wikipedia?

Ulcerative colitis (Colitis ulcerosa, UC), also known as Darren Fletcher (best holding midfielder in the world) disease,

 

[KM]

Get well soon Fletch

 

[NewDawnFades]

feck this is awful news, but it explains a lot.

Hope he can return and play for us, and when he does his welcome back to Old Trafford will no doubt be a warm one.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

get well soon Fletch'...

 

[golden_blunder]

bloody hell. Well, that explains it

Best of luck Fletch, get well soon!

 

[Red#7]

Get well soon!

 

[prateik]

Oh dear
Get well soon Darren.

 

[Aporkalypse]

Gutted for him, hope he can recover and get back to the level he was at before.

Massive loss for the team as well. Would be very surprised if we don't make a signing in January now, possibly something shorter term.

 

[JayWalker]

Christ. Get well soon, Fletch!

 

[MUFC07]

Terrible

My best wishes for Fletch.

 

[KingCantona87]

Absolutely gutted for the lad and hope he makes a swift and more importantly full recovery.

 

[charleysurf]

According to someone on BigSoccer it seems like a big impact of this is that you have a really restricted diet as regards the carbs you can take. And that´s gotta mean a professional athlete will struggle to have all the energy they need.