Ryan Giggs has revealed he visited a psychiatrist to help him adapt to life after Manchester United, saying he had become "institutionalised" by his long Old Trafford career.

The mental health of the sport's professionals is in the spotlight after Everton midfielder Aaron Lennon, 30, was detained under the Mental Health Act amid concerns for his welfare last Sunday.

The former Red Devils star Giggs said in his Daily Telegraph column: "I do not know what has affected Aaron, but I always struggled in the periods I was out the team or playing badly.

"I had a feeling of worthlessness. As a footballer you wonder if your team-mates are asking the questions you ask yourself. Why can't he hit a decent pass? Why's he always injured?"

He added: "Institutionalised is a description I would apply to my life as a footballer at Man United.

"My life had been so distinctively shaped by the rhythm of life at Old Trafford that I realised I had to make some preparations for the change.

“When my life as a player and then coach at United came to an end, I decided to see a psychiatrist to learn how best to cope and some of the suggestions he made served me well in adapting to a new life outside of United."