United's midfielder general Darren Fletcher plays on with broken bone

Manchester United linchpin Darren Fletcher is one bad tackle away from ankle surgery, it has emerged. The Scotland international is recognised as United's most importantmidfielder and returned to action after an injury lay-off as his teamdrew 3-3 with CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford on Tuesday. Influential: United midfielder Darren Fletcher Fletcher now has his sights on Sunday's titanic clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but revealed he is playing with a damaged ankle that will eventually need an operation. The 25-year-old is hoping that injections and careful management will get him through the season but it is clear that the problem is making him vulnerable. Fletcher said last night: 'I injured my ankle in the Sunderland game last month. A bit of bone has broken off the back of my ankle and is stuck, so every time I bend it is causing a bit of pain. 'I have had an injection to clear it up but eventually it is going to need to be cleaned out. There has been a build-up of fluid as well. I will have to get something done but the injection will see me through a few months. 'It should be OK to the end of the season. That is the plan - to get me through to the summer. 'Striking a ball or bending the ankle in a flexed position or pushing off hurts. It got to the point where it was too sore to train and play so something had to be done and I had the injection.' Reason to smile: Sir Alex Ferguson hopes to have Dimitar Berbatov back for Chelsea clash United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hopes to have defender Nemanja Vidic back for Sunday's game as well as striker Dimitar Berbatov and winger Ryan Giggs. It appears unlikely that Rio Ferdinand will be back to play on his 31st birthday, though, after team-mate Wes Brown revealed the defender has a back problem. Brown said: 'Rio has been injured for a very long time and he's been getting a lot of pain in his back. When he comes back I'm sure he'll be a lot stronger. If you are not fully fit and you try and play it's very hard.' One defender who will face Chelsea is left back Patrice Evra, who has a controversial history against the club. The Frenchman was charged by the FA for fighting with Chelsea groundstaff after a game two seasons ago and was flattened off the ball by Michael Ballack in the build-up to the London club's goal in the Community Shield in August. Evra said: 'When I play against Chelsea something bad always happens. There was the trouble after one game and then this season there was the incident with Ballack. I have to make sure this time that nothing happens.'  GRAHAM POLL: Branding Darren Fletcher a cheat was a terrible slur on an honest guyCarlton Cole and Emile Heskey injuries open door to Michael Owen for England  Explore more:People:Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra, Dimitar Berbatov, Alex Ferguson, Darren Fletcher, WES BROWN, Nemanja Vidic, Michael BallackPlaces:Scotland

Source: Daily_Mail