Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill believes Manchester United’s decision to bring back Jonny Evans was ‘a bit of a no-brainer’ while backing the veteran to earn a contract extension with the Premier League giants.
Those reacting with bewilderment to the sight of Jonny Evans starting Premier League games for Manchester United in 2023 are rather missing the point.
Evans was brought in as a back-up, joining on a free transfer after leaving Leicester City. His place in Erik ten Hag’s XI, meanwhile, is largely the result of injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw.
35-year-old Evans was never supposed to be a regular in the United side this season. But, still, the fact that he has performed with such composure and poise even at such an age is testament to the veteran defender’s enduring quality.
Jonny Evans impressing at Manchester United
“The biggest thing Jonny had to do was prove to himself. I think he had a lot of doubts over the summer,” O’Neill, back in charge for a second spell with Northern Ireland, tells the Belfast Telegraph.
“I thought it made sense (for Manchester United) to bring him back. I think the manager saw the benefit of having him there.
“It was a little bit of a no-brainer. It wasn’t expensive to do it, and people will always use that and say, ‘is this where we’re at? Why have we not got a £100 million centre-back playing here?’ You can’t stop that opinion.
“It made sense to do what they did. And Jonny believed himself that if he got an opportunity, he could still play.
“So, it was a common sense decision in that situation to bring him back in. And I don’t think he’s let anyone down when he’s played.”
The veteran has more left to give
Evans is only under contract until the summer of 2024. O’Neill, however, is backing the three-time Premier League champion to extend his stay at the top level of English football beyond the current campaign, at Manchester United or somewhere else.
“People think ‘he’ll have a year at Old Trafford and that will be it’. For me, Jonny can play definitely for the next two years,” O’Neill adds.
“He’s a massive player for us. I know for a fact that when Evans plays, the player beside him always plays better. He does make the player that plays alongside him a lot better.”
Evans is, however, set to miss the next few weeks with an injury picked up in Copenhagen.
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