Manchester United's Fletcher out for rest of season

LONDON (REUTERS) - Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been ruled out for the rest of the season after having surgery to resolve a bowel condition, the Premier League leaders said on Thursday.

The 28-year-old Scotland international missed most of last season and the start of the current campaign because of the problem but returned to make 13 appearances for club and country since September.

His last match was an 89th-minute substitute appearance in United's 4-3 win over Newcastle on Dec 26.

"Darren Fletcher will be unavailable for the remainder of this season having undergone surgery to resolve his ulcerative colitis condition," the club said in a statement on their website (www.manutd.com).