London, Dec 17 (IANS) Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher said after his return to the field, he did not know whether he would be able to live normally again as he battled with a debilitating medical condition.
Fletcher has fought to recover from ulcerative colitis, an extreme condition affecting the colon, for several years before making his latest comeback in United’s 3-0 win at Aston Villa Sunday, reported Xinhua.
Fletcher had already received two operations in the hope of finding a way of managing the condition without success.
As he prepared for a third operation, he was more concerned with how he would cope with the rest of his life rather than his soccer career.
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“There was a day in May when we said ‘this is it’. Once I came out of that operation I would know whether it had worked or not,” he said.
“There were no guarantees. If the operation was not a success there was no way I would be able to play football and my everyday life would have been very difficult.
The surgery was a success and Fletcher played at Villa Park Sunday, being introduced as a second-half substitute as his team cruised to victory in the Premier League fixture.
“I am back to normal. I do not have ulcerative colitis. I am back playing football in the Premier League,” he said.
