The 28 year old has been sidelined for an indefinite period as he seeks to find a way of managing a chronic bowel condition which would enable him to carry on with his career.
Other sports stars have managed to continue in their chosen field with the condition and that gives Fletcher hope that he can be back soon.
But not this season.
“It’s a week-by-week situation so I’ve not got any timescale on recovery, but the target for me is next season now,”Fletcher said.
“If I can come back then, that would be great for me.
“It’s something that will never leave me but somehow you have to find a way to manage it so that I can still play my football.
“I’m trying everything under the sun at the moment: diet, hypnotherapy.”