Darren Fletcher has undergone make-or-break surgery to rescue his Manchester United career.

The 29-year-old former Scotland captain has been battling the debilitating bowel condition ulcerative colitis and had the last of three operations a few days ago.

He told the People: "It's been a big battle but if I come through the last operation OK at the end of June then that will be the breakthrough I've been waiting for and I should be OK to resume playing again.

"It's been a hard time the last couple of years dealing with something like this. As a professional footballer all you want to do is play, but that's not been possible for me.

"But if the operation is a success I've been told there should be nothing to stop me being cleared to play again."