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Leon Osman raves about ‘calming influence’ who ‘epitomised Manchester United defensively’ vs Luton, not Varane

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Manchester United ran out 2-1 winners against Luton Town in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Red Devils managed to rind out yet another win in 2024, which see’s Erik ten Hag‘s unbeaten streak extended for at least another week.

He has Rasmus Hojlund to thank. His two goals stole all the plaudits and ultimately got Manchester United the victory away from Old Trafford.

But there is one player who didn’t even start the fixture and deserves a monumental amount of credit.

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Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images

Leon Osman on Jonny Evans vs Luton Town

Former Premier League midfielder turned pundit Leon Osman spoke on Match of the Day 2 about how impressed he was with Manchester United veteran Jonny Evans, after his half-time introduction following a Harry Maguire yellow card.

“He brought Jonny Evans onto the field and I thought he epitomised Manchester United defensively in the second half,” Osman begins.

“He was organised really well and aware of what was around him. He defended every ball that came into the penalty area.

“He didn’t mind getting rid of it, you know he didn’t mind the odd hoof it up the pitch if that was necessary.

“When you’ve got that type of experience and you have that type of player behind you, it’s quite a calming influence for those ahead of you.

“United had to defend 36 crosses into the box today, 22 of them in the second half and Jonny Evans met pretty much every one of them. He made 10 clearances, double the amount of anyone on the pitch, and he was only on the pitch for 45 minutes!”

Jonny Evans is criminally underrated

It’s still baffling to think that aside from Rasmus Hojlund, who is a fan of the Northern Ireland star, Evans has been Manchester United’s best summer signing.

He really did show his class in this game. As Osman said, Evans met absolutely everything that came his way and really did put in a performance fit for a top United centre-half.

All that at 36! Reckon we can get another year out of him?

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