Return for Fletcher looks some way off

MANCHESTER United midfielder Darren Fletcher remains hopeful he might be able to make his comeback from a chronic bowel condition next season – although he admits there is no date in sight for when he can start training.

The Scotland captain has not played since a Champions League clash with Benfica on 22 November due to a condition known as ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease.

While he waits to hear when he can step up his recovery programme Fletcher, 27, has taken over some of the coaching responsibilities Paul Scholes abandoned when he came out of retirement, a role he says he has been enjoying. “It gets me out of the house and I’m passing on advice to young players,” he said.

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“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. 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.”

Fletcher led Scotland in their failed Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, and national manager Craig Levein had expressed his hope that he might be available for the opening 2014 World Cup qualifiers in November.

However, that may prove to be too early for the player to contemplate an international comeback.