Russell Martin suffering from same bowel illness as Darren Fletcher

SCOTLAND defender Russell Martin has revealed he’s suffering from the same illness as national team captain Darren Fletcher, but has managed to beat it.

Norwich City defender Martin, who came on as a substitute during Scotland’s 5-1 defeat in the USA at the weekend, has spoken about how he suffered from the same chronic bowel condition – ulcerative colitis – as Manchester United midfielder Fletcher, but battled through it and was able to keep on playing. Now he’s backing Fletcher to do the same.

Martin said: “I hope to speak to him at some point over the summer. Any help I can give him I will because I understand what he’s going through. I was lucky because it was dealt with so quickly and while there is pressure in League One – where I was playing when I was diagnosed – it’s a bit different to the level of playing in the Champions League, where you need to be at your best week in and week out.”

Martin is now a sporting ambassador for charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK and wants to share his experience of coping with the inflammatory bowel disease. He said: “I had a lot of stomach pain and blood loss when I went to the toilet. There were abdominal cramps and I was wanting to go to the toilet about 15 to 20 times a day.

“Thankfully, I’m managing now on a strict diet. I’m not on any medication and I’ve been in remission for quite a while.”