Jonny Evans
Johnny Evans is one of the latest youngsters to have come through the youth team ranks and establish themselves as a first team squad regular. The Northern Irerland international caught the eye of Manchester United scouts whilst playing for Belfast youth side Greenisland F.C. Evans joined The Reds in 2004 and got his first taste of things to come when he played three games during the club's 2006 tour of South Africa , making his debut on 15 July in the 4-0 win over Orlando Pirates. Although the player was given a tatser of first team action during the 2006 pre-season, he spent the first few months of that season on loan in Belgium at Manchester United's feeder club Royal Antwerp. And it was during that spell Evans made his competitive debut. He went on to make 14 appearances for the club, scoring twice. On 6 September 2006 Jonny Evans made his international debut for Northern Ireland, which proved to be a pretty memorable night, not only for the player, but for the people Northern Ireland as against all odds as the team ran out 3-2 winners. What was even more remarkable about the situation is that the player hadn't even made his competitive Manchester United debut. During the 2007 January transfer window, United legend Roy Keane took the player on loan at Sunderland, until the end of the 2006-2007 season, where the player enjoyed immediate success,as he was voted Sunderland's young player of the year, as well as helping them clinch the Championship title. While at Sunderland Evans made his competitive debut in England on 6 January 2007 in a 1-0 defeat by Preston North End in the F.A. Cup. After the game Roy Keane declared "He was very composed and looks a fantastic prospect" That season he went on to make a further 18 appearances for club, scoring once. On 26 September 2007 Jonny Evans made his senior Manchester United debut in a 2-0 League Cup defeat at the hands of Coventry City at Old Trafford. After a disappointing performance the young Evans was given another chance when he replaced fellow youngster Gerard Pique in the UEFA Champions League, with Manchester United running out 4-0 winners. The result meant The Reds had qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament. On 12 December 2007 Jonny Evans started his first match for Manchester United against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. The young defender impressed as The Reds secured a more than satisfactory 1-1 draw. Although the player was starting to break into the first team squad Sir Alex Ferguson felt that the player needed to get more experience, so allowed former captain Roy Keane to take the player to Sunderland for a second loan spell, where he played 16 times. Although Roy Keane wanted to buy Jonny Evans for a "considerable amount of money" the Manchester United manager refused, stating he saw a "bright future" for the player at Old Trafford. In Dcemeber 2008 Evans lifted his first piece of silverware when he helped Manchester United win the FIFA Club World Cup, after victories over Gamba Osaka and LDU Quito. When he returned from the tournament, which was held in Japan, he broke into Manchester United's first team, when the club were missing the experienced pair of Wes Brown and Rio Ferdinand through injury. Jonny Evans Honours Sunderland Manchester United Personal Honours Sunderland Young Player of the Year 2007 From Jonny Evans, to Manchester United players Manchester United football legends Manchester United Fans Site home |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
