Manchester United star Darren Fletcher has insisted that he never thought his football career was over even after he missed ten months with a chronic bowel problem.
The 28-year-old was forced to take nearly a year out of the game and rumours spread that was going to be forced to retire because of the illness. However it was just speculation and instead, back fit, Fletcher captained Scotland during their 2-1 defeat to Wales last night.
He told Sky Sports that he is delighted to be back playing for both club and country: “I didn’t doubt that I would play again,” he said. “I always felt I would be back. I think I needed to have that kind of attitude.
“There were other people who doubted it but, for me, to be here I always needed to believe.
“I couldn’t let myself think I might not make it. I always told myself I’d be back one day and fortunately that’s the case. But it’s not been plain sailing along the way by any stretch of the imagination.
However, Fletcher has admitted that he faces a battle for every day of his life to prevent his chronic bowel problem returning and that he’ll never reach 100% of his previous fitness again which could be an issue in the Premier League.
“The doctors just needed to find out if not playing would make me healthier,” he said. “Then I would have been left with a decision to make. Do I want to play football or do I want to live a healthy life?
“But deep down I was always confident it wasn’t going to end that way. I always felt we would find a medication that would work. I just had to stay positive even though many people, maybe even the doctors, didn’t think I’d ever be back.
“The condition never goes away and that’s the thing I have to live with. Every day is a battle for me. I have to watch my diet and take certain medication or it could come back.
“I’m never going to be 100% and that’s something I’m going to have to live with for the rest of my life. But the position I’m in now, compared to where I was? I’d gladly accept being like this for the rest of my life. It’s not ideal, but it’s manageable.”