Usain Bolt is certain he will emerge victorious from the 150m street race in Manchester on Sunday evening.

The 22-year-old Jamaican won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the Beijing Olympics last August.

He has taken time to recover from a recent car crash but will face Brits Marlon Devonish and Simeon Williamson.

Asked if he would win, he said: “Definitely. It’s always business and if you’re lined up alongside me I take you seriously.”

Bolt has a bye into the final, his opponents in the race having all agreed to this with the race organisers.

After the accident my coach was having second thoughts but I wanted to come here Usain Bolt

The world 100m and 200m record holder hopes he can break Donovan Bailey’s fastest-ever 150m time of 14.99 seconds over the rarely-run distance.

“I think I ran 14-something but I have run it only in training. I don’t go worrying about times. That is when you start running slower,” said Bolt.

“After the accident my coach was having second thoughts about sending me, but I wanted to come here. I am happy to be here.”

The sprint is one of several events running on the day of the 10km Great Manchester Run, a mass-participation event featuring 33,000 runners.

Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie is the star of the men’s elite race, while Andrew Lemoncello, who has been in impressive form of late, leads the British challenge.

In the women’s event, Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot is being tipped to challenge Paula Radcliffe’s British all-comers’ 10km road record of 30 minutes 38 seconds.

Olympic 400m gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu takes on Beijing 100m and 200m finalist Debbie Fergusson-McKenzie of the Bahamas in the women’s 150m race, being run on a world-standard track in the city centre.

Meanwhile Bolt, a keen Manchester United fan, spent Friday meeting the team at their training ground.

He is also due to be presented on the Old Trafford pitch during the half-time interval of Saturday’s match against Arsenal and will also attend the Manchester United players awards on Sunday