It is fair to say Charlie Scott’s daily routine has changed quite a bit since the days, not too long ago, when he was happily trying to make his way at Manchester United and his mind was free of the depression that makes this such a difficult and emotive interview.



He is up these days at 5.30am. It is 50 miles or so from his home in Stoke-on-Trent to the building site in Birmingham where he has been working as a labourer. Scott obtained his CSCS card in December, giving him the qualifications to be on a construction site. It is hard, punishing graft but it earns him a bit of money. It keeps him busy and it helps to stop his mind drifting to a place where he does not want it to be.



Then, when he gets home, he still finds the energy to go for a run or take a ball into the garden. He still wants to be a footballer, even though the sport has been so unkind to him that there are parts of his story that could make you weep.



“Without my parents,...