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Career fears expressed for Fletcher

Darren Flatcher's club and international career has been put on hold © PA Photos

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Darren Fletcher faces a battle to save his career, with one medical expert claiming the Manchester United man could struggle to maintain the fitness levels required of a professional sportsman.

United released a statement on Tuesday confirming the Scotland international was to take an "extended break" in a bid to combat the effects of colitis, an inflammatory bowel condition.

Rugby star Lewis Moody has fought the problem to play at the top level, but he has said "it will never go away. It is a life sentence."

Moody has been given special dispensation to take medication that may otherwise contravene the rugby substance code, but in severe cases it can curtail careers and impact on everyday life.

"I would be very surprised if he could perform at the same level with this condition," Professor Chris Probert, a consultant gastroenterologist at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, told the Daily Telegraph. "He must have been extremely fit to have been able to play for as long as he has with the symptoms of the condition.

"It seems inconceivable that he would not have had his performance impaired somehow by the condition and it's no surprise that he's been forced to take short breaks from time to time."

Dr Mark Probert, speaking in The Times, said: "Modern anti-inflammatory drugs can be very effective at relieving symptoms and preventing relapses, but they do not work for everyone and the more severely-affected cases can struggle to lead a normal life, let alone maintain the sort of fitness levels required in professional football."

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