Darren Fletcher has received support from olympian Sir Steve Redgrave after the rower revealed he was a fellow ulcerative colitis sufferer.
Manchester United midfielder Fletcher is taking an extended break from football to try to recover from the illness.
Five-time Olympic gold medallist Redgrave was diagnosed with the condition in 1992 and has spoken to Scottish international Fletcher on the phone.
"At least he knows somebody else in the sports world has gone through it," Redgrave told BBC Sportsweek.
"In some ways you feel very isolated when you have a problem that drags on for a long period of time. You feel you are the only person in that situation."
Redgrave also said his wife Ann had also spoken to Fletcher because she was the team doctor to the Great Britain rowing team.
