In April 2002, a 24 year old Matt Jansen was called into the England first team squad for the first time, after enjoying a successful campaign in the English top flight with Blackburn Rovers, scoring 10 goals in 35 matches. Jansen had always been seen as an English talent, representing the Under 21 side while at Crystal Palace, and scoring goals with both Carlisle and Palace, before netting 23 goals in 40 games during Blackburn’s 2000/01 promotion season.

From this moment in time, Jansen's career, and life changed drastically, the first problem he encountered was a stomach bug that kept him out of the Friendly he'd worked so hard to be called up for, and then, in the summer of 2002, just before a World Cup he could have been playing in, and ill fated trip to Rome nearly ended Jansen's life. Jansen's vehicle collided with a taxi in the Italian capital and the impact caused Jansen to spend a number of days in hospital with minor injuries and concussions. However, it was more the psychological effect that the crash had on Jansen's mindset, and he never seemed to recover to fulfil his once massive potential.

Jansen struggled to fight back into the Rover's first team for the next 4 years, with a loan spell at Coventry City during this period. After years in and out of the set-up and numerous visits to sports psychiatrists, Jansen decided that maybe a fresh start with a new club would help him salvage his footballing career, and joined Bolton in 2006.

Jansen was unsuccessful at Bolton and was soon released, leading to potential footballing comebacks at New York Red Bull and old sides Carlisle and Bolton, now, 2 years since his last professional appearance, Jansen has decided to give professional football one last shot, and has joined Paul Ince at his spiritual home Blackburn Rovers. Still very popular at Ewood Park, most Blackburn fans would love to see him back in the blue and white. Another side welcome to his return is Carlisle United, the side where Jansen started his career; manager Greg Abbott has already stated since roumers of his return that "the door is always open" to Jansen's return. But we will have to see if Matt Jansen decides to have one last shot at the game he loves.