Manchester United's Fletcher out for rest of season

Darren Fletcher leaves a Manchester United club that's in first place in the Premier League?

Jon Super/AP

MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- Man United midfielder Darren Fletcher will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to resolve his bowel condition.

United says it was a "planned procedure ... in the best interests of his long-term health.''

The Scotland international returned in September after 10 months out recovering from ulcerative colitis - a chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.

But United says "we look forward to him returning next season with this problem firmly behind him.''

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