Fletcher to battle until summer with ankle injury

Darren Fletcher is only just back from an injury lay-off, but the Manchester United midfielder is already planning for a summer operation to cure an ankle problem.

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Darren Fletcher is a vital player for United

The Scotland international has had to play with the aid of a pain-killing injection to ease the problem, something he will have to live with for the rest of the season if he is to avoid another lay-off.

The 25-year-old, who has returned from a month on the sidelines, revealed: "A bit of bone has broken off the back of my ankle and stuck out about an inch. Every time I bend it is causing a bit of pain so I have had an injection to clear it up for a while.

"It should be okay to the end of the season but the plan is to get me through to the summer and then do something then.

"I have had it for a couple of years now and the build-up of fluid and other medical things the doctors know more about than me has been constantly aggravating it. Striking a ball or bending the ankle in a flexed position or pushing off it hurts.

"It got to the point where it was too sore to train and play. Something had to be done and I had the injection.''