Darren Fletcher Hopes Obscure Methods Will Boost Recovery

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has refused to set a comeback date in his recovery from a chronic bowel condition but revealed he has turned to hypnotherapy in an attempt to return to match-fitness.

Fletcher, 28, has been side-lined since December with ulcerative colitis, a rare bowel condition that has affected him for the last year.

The Manchester United midfielder has tried a number of different treatments for the problem that would enable him to return for the Premier League champions.

Fletcher has been unable to put any timescale on how long he will need out of the game, or even guarantee that he will be able to resume his career with Manchester United.

The Scotland international says he will not feature again this season as he steps up his bid to return next season.

"It's a week-by-week situation so I've not got any timescale on recovery, but the target for me is next season now," Fletcher is quoted in the Telegraph.

"If I can come back then, that would be great for me. It's something that will never leave me but somehow you have to find a way to manage it so that I can still play my football.

"I'm trying everything under the sun at the moment: diet, hypnotherapy."

Meanwhile, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes Sunday's league clash against Tottenham is a make-or-break match in the club's season.

United trail leaders Manchester City by two points and the Scot has acknowledged that anything less than a win could dent the club's title ambitions.

"It's going to be a massive game at Spurs," Ferguson is quoted on the BBC.

"If we can survive that, then we'll have a big chance of winning the league."