Fletcher receives manager's backing

Sir Alex Ferguson has reassured Darren Fletcher that he still has a future at Manchester United even if it's no longer as a player.

Doubts are persisting about Fletcher's prospects of returning to the football field again after he was forced to take an extended break last season due to a chronic bowel complaint. The United boss had hoped to see the Scottish international back for pre-season training, but that plan has been put on hold as the midfielder is still not up to it. Fletcher hasn't kicked a ball in anger since last November as he went away to fight the condition that has been bothering him since March 2011, but Ferguson and the club are vowing to stick by him. He has already taken charge of United's reserves during his enforced break from playing and is currently working to get his coaching badges to continue his career in the game if he is advised to quit. Ferguson said: "Darren has not started training with us. Obviously he has got challenges and we are happy to be patient with him. But he won't be starting the season. "It is unfortunate because he is such a magnificent professional and such a nice lad. If it doesn't work for him he knows he has a position at the club."