Darren Fletcher never doubted he would return to the national team but that will not make the moment any less special

Michael Grant

Chief football writer

Friday 12 October 2012

DARREN Fletcher last night admitted he will face a daily battle with illness for the rest of his life.

Darren Fletcher will start against Wales

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Michael Grant

The Manchester United midfielder will pull on a Scotland shirt for the first time in 11 months in tonight's World Cup qualifier against Wales in Cardiff, but the serious bowel condition which jeopardised his club and international career will remain a constant companion.

The return of the Scotland captain is a massive boost ahead of the third qualifier in Group A and –injuries permitting – he will be able to play this evening as well as in Belgium on Tuesday, earning his 59th and 60th caps. Ulcerative colitis is a bowel disorder which could cause Fletcher problems at any stage of his life unless it is carefully managed by diet and medication, but when he spoke at the squad's hotel in Cardiff last night the 28-year-old's enthusiasm and optimism were obvious.He returned at club level in September, having not kicked a ball – even with his children in the back garden – between December and July. "When I played in my first reserve game the excitement levels were unbelievable. Then, obviously, it went up a few notches when I made my return to the United first team. But to be back in a Scotland shirt? That's another thing again. Just to be sitting here in the team hotel the night before the game: it almost feels like I'm starting out all over again. I've got a lot more experience and there are things I know how to handle now but, in terms of my excitement levels, it feels like I'm about to win my first cap all over again."I didn't doubt that I would play again. I always felt I would be back. I think I needed to have that kind of attitude. There were other people who doubted it but, for me, to be here today I always needed to believe. I couldn't let myself think I might not make it. I always told myself I'd be back one day and fortunately that's the case. But it's not been plain sailing along the way by any stretch of the imagination."I would like to think Sir Alex [Ferguson] always knew I would be back, as well. Right now, I'm still at the stage of convincing him that I should be back in the team and playing two or three games a week."Fletcher was hospitalised more than once – never with any drama, he said, but doctors told him he ought to visit within the next few days – and put on a drip. Only by taking a complete break from football was he able to determine whether the condition was aggravated by training and playing football. Mercifully, it was not."The doctors just needed to find out if not playing would make me healthier. Then I would have been left with a decision to make. Do I want to play football or do I want to live a healthy life? But deep down I was always confident it wasn't going to end that way. I always felt we would find a medication that would work. I just had to stay positive even though many people, maybe even the doctors, didn't think I'd ever be back."The condition never goes away and that's the thing I have to live with. Every day is a battle for me. I have to watch my diet and take certain medication or it could come back. It's a battle every day. I'm never going to be 100% and that's something I'm going to have to live with for the rest of my life. But the position I'm in now, compared to where I was? I'd gladly accept being like this for the rest of my life. It's not ideal, but it's manageable."There were a lot of people around me – my family and friends – and I knew I had to be strong for them. I couldn't let it beat me or go into a depression. I just had to say myself I was going to get myself right, no matter how ill I felt."I want to play down everything about coming back and being an inspiration to people. I just always thought I would be back so I never really doubted it. "I'll probably take a wee minute before the game just to soak everything up but it will be great to be back and playing for my country."

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Darren Fletcher never doubted he would return to the national team but that will not make the moment any less special

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