Fergie Support Stuns Fletcher

Darren Fletcher says Sir Alex Ferguson's public support for his recovery from a bowel condition left him speechless.

The Manchester United midfielder has suffered from ulcerative colitis for five years, and was forced to take a break from playing in November 2011.

A comeback was curtailed after five games one year later, and the 29-year-old had surgery in January 2013.

Ferguson mentioned Fletcher in his farewell speech at Old Trafford after his final home game in charge of United before retiring, a move that stunned the Scotland international, but also left him determined to return to playing once again.

"I was just blown away," admitted Fletcher in the Daily Record. "For him, at that moment, to take the time to think and to speak of me was fantastic and it just shows the measure of the man.

"It speaks volumes of him to think of other people when the whole occasion was about him.

"It was just one of those moments that shocks you because you just do not expect it. It was emotional. More than anything it gave me a great determination to come back.

"Him speaking like that - after everything he has done for you - you want to get back as a thank you almost to him and to the club for the way they have been with me."