On a fenced-in artificial pitch, on the edge of one of Salford's most notorious estates, a group of men with what you could call lived-in faces are finishing a game of football.

Some are dressed in jeans and shoes - they have no kit or boots.

Stories of strife are swapped. 'I'm only here so I can get a shower,' says one as he rolls a cigarette. 'The wife booted me out a week ago and I've been on a settee since.'

Jesper Blomqvist helped coach youngsters from Manchester United Foundation's Street Red project

Another is reflecting on how this kickabout, for those who may have suffered from mental health issues, is the latest tentative step on a long journey back from the brink.

'I was on a bridge over a motorway,' he says as he looks into the distance. 'They sectioned me for five years.'

Into this environment walks a man who knows all about adversity.

Jesper Blomqvist, he of hand in sleeve and knee often in cast, is back in Manchester.

The Swede, now 41, was a key cog in Sir Alex Ferguson's treble-winning machine, making 38 appearances in that memorable season following a £4.4m switch from Parma.

The midfielder (left) was a crucial player in Manchester United's treble winning season of 1998-99

But his 67 minutes in the late, late Champions League Final win over Bayern Munich in Barcelona would be his last in a red shirt. Three operations and two gruelling years of rehab later he was on his way to Everton but would continue to be haunted by injury before eventual retirement.

He is here on Sunday to coach youngsters from the Manchester United Foundation's Street Reds project, but given his background he may also be well suited to having a word with those vacating the pitch.

Blomqvist now helps his brother lecture people on how to handle setbacks using his previous experiences

The years have been kind. Blomqvist's long hair remains and is now accompanied by a beard which makes him look suited to the role he currently performs.

'I lecture with my brother,' he explains.

'He's a psychologist so he talks about how to handle setbacks and how to keep on performing. I can relate to that and give some real life examples from my career both good times and bad times. We speak to people from companies who have team building days.'

Blomqvist celebrates their semi-final win over Juventus with Steve McClaren (centre) and Dwight Yorke

Blomqvist had the world at his tricky feet when he signed for United in 1998. He was one of few players Sir Alex Ferguson had to try more than once to convince to move to the club, after he spurned the Scotsman's advances to sign for Parma and Carlo Ancelotti after a frustrating year on AC Milan's bench.

'I liked Italy,' he explains, apologetically.

'It was nothing to do with Manchester. I had learned the language and I had settled in. I enjoyed the life and I enjoyed Parma, but then Carlo Ancelotti left.'

Blomqvist revealed that he rejected Sir Alex Ferguson the first time and signed for Parma in 1997

Sir Alex Ferguson came back again and managed to sign up his man to compete with Ryan Giggs

Back came a determined Ferguson and this time he was successful, bringing Blomqvist to the club to compete with Ryan Giggs on the left.

It went well. In that treble-winning year Blomqvist picked up three medals, although one was almost consigned to Catalonian turf in the celebrations that followed United's belief-defying victory over Bayern at the Nou Camp.

'I don't remember much about that night,' he reveals. 'It was high tension. Afterwards it was joy. I lost my medal on the pitch jumping around and I had to start looking for it. I was scared but I found it in the end.'

The Swede (bottom left) started for United in the Champions League final victory against Bayern Munich

The Red Devils were involved in one of the most exciting comebacks of all time after winning the trophy

United have a quite sensational season, winning the FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League

Then came injury. Blomqvist went under the knife three times and it was here where he learned the lessons he now passes on.

'You try to get your head down,' he says.

'Small goals. In a few weeks I can go on the bike, then a few more and I can go running. But it's hours and hours of rehab and you feel like an outcast. You lose the connection with everyone, especially if it goes on for a long time.'

Eventually Ferguson called him into his office for the inevitable chat.

Blomqvist in action for United during the 1999 Champions League final where they completed the treble

'I remember that last discussion because I felt quite guilty,' he says. 'I had been injured for so long and they kept paying the wages. He said 'don't worry, this is football - you gave me one excellent year and we won everything'.

'When he said that it was as though a stone fell off my heart. It meant a lot to me that he could feel like that.

'Of course he phoned Water Smith and helped me to get a deal with Everton - it spoke volumes of him.'

Blomqvist enjoyed his time at Goodison Park where he was restricted to 17 appearances.

The 41-year-old had an injury hit time at Everton and only managed 17 appearances for the club

'Without wanting to be disrespectful it was a smaller club,' he says. 'There were fewer people working there which made it feel more like a family and I enjoyed that.'

During Blomqvist's nine months on Merseyside, Smith was replaced by David Moyes.

'I enjoyed playing for him,' he says. 'He was, is, a good coach. That's why I was surprised it didn't work (at United). It was always going to be really hard to take over from Sir Alex. Sometimes it's about getting the right job at the right moment.

'Maybe it was bad timing. The only thing I think he may have done wrong was to change too many of the staff. When you have such a winning concept its very dangerous to change too much. Of course he wanted to put his mark on the club so you can understand it but I think it backfired.'

Blomqvist worked under Ferguson and David Moyes (right) and spoke highly of them both

After Everton, Blomqvist endured a short stint with Charlton Athletic ('I enjoyed London but I was injured all the time') before heading back to his homeland.

He will, however, be back in the red shirt of Manchester United in when the club's legends team recreate that 1999 final against Bayern's veterans at Old Trafford on June 14.

'It's always competitive with Manchester United,' he says (Blomqvist set up Andy Cole for the equaliser in the 3-3 first leg at a packed Allianz Arena).

'I play with lots of the old teams I have been involved with but there's a difference with United.

'Nobody wants to lose. They are fit and ready.'

Now, at last, so is he.