Jonny Evans, seemingly out of nowhere, appeared as part of Manchester United’s pre-season squad last summer and initially, it was thought that he was just taking part to regain fitness as he searched for a new club.
Evans had just left Leicester after their relegation from the Premier League and was on the hunt for a new club but impressive performances in friendlies and training convinced Erik ten Hag to bring him back to Manchester United.
Since then, he has played more than even he would have expected in his first season back but now, with less than three months remaining of the season, he is one of the most consistent players in the side.
Evans has stepped in amid an injury nightmare at centre-back for Ten Hag, with Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez both sustaining long-term injuries.
Victor Lindelof has had to fill in at left-back to plug the hole left by Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, meaning Evans has been the go-to partner for Raphael Varane.
Evans rolled back the years once more earlier this weekend against Everton, putting in a man-of-the-match performance and Ten Hag explained exactly why he was brought back after the game.
“Oh yeah, [I have been] very [impressed],” Ten Hag told the press about Evans after the game, according to the official Manchester United website.
“We are so pleased we signed the fifth centre-back because normally, you say: ‘Why five centre-backs in the squad?’ But you see, we are so happy we did this.
“As you see, his performance across the season, he’s such an important player for this squad. [He will] always be there when he’s needed and give good performances.”
Evans has performed at a high level in recent weeks and it will be interesting to see if he keeps his place when Maguire returns. Ten Hag also revealed that Maguire is in line to make his return from injury next weekend against Liverpool.
Evans and Varane seem to have struck an understanding and going into, possibly, the biggest game United have to play this season, will Ten Hag revert back to Maguire and Varane?
