Manchester United and Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher is to take "an extended break from football" owing to a chronic bowel condition.

Fletcher: Has ulcerative colitis

United have revealed that Fletcher, who has been sidelined at various points in recent times with was reported to be a virus, has been suffering with the inflammatory condition known as ulcerative colitis for some time.

The 27-year-old has now been advised to take a complete break from the game.

The club said in a statement: "On behalf of Darren Fletcher, Manchester United wishes to announce that he is taking an extended break from football for health reasons.

"Over the past year he has had several absence periods which we have attributed to a viral illness in order to respect his right to medical confidentiality; Darren has in fact been suffering from ulcerative colitis (a chronic inflammatory bowel condition) for some time preceding this.

"Whilst he was able to maintain remission of symptoms for a considerable period this has proved more difficult recently and Darren's continued desire to play and his loyalty to both club and country has probably compromised the chances of optimising his own health and fitness.

"He has therefore accepted medical advice to take an extended break from the demands of training and playing in order to afford the best chance possible of achieving full remission once again.

"We request that his privacy is respected and hope that the removal of the additional stress associated with speculation regarding his health will also aid his recovery."