The midfielder took to the field for the first time in four weeks in Tuesday's 3-3 draw with CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.

Fletcher is hopeful that an injection will keep pain from the troublesome ankle at bay until the end of the season, so he can play in United's remaining Barclays Premier League matches, including Sunday's all important meeting with league leaders Chelsea.

"A bit of bone has broken off the back of my ankle and stuck out about an inch," he revealed.

"Every time I bend it is causing a bit of pain so I have had an injection to clear it up for a while. It should be okay to the end of the season but the plan is to get me through to the summer and then do something then."

The Scotland international will be able to undergo the operation next summer after his country missed out on the chance to qualify for next summer's World Cup Finals and he is hopeful it will finally rectify a niggle that has been bothering him for some time.

"I have had it for a couple of years now and the build-up of fluid and other medical things the doctors know more about than me has been constantly aggravating it," he said.

"Striking a ball or bending the ankle in a flexed position or pushing off it hurts.

"It got to the point where it was too sore to train and play. Something had to be done and I had the injection."