Whatever Happened To Jonny Evans?
This was supposed to be Jonny Evans’ year.
The talented defender was part of the Keane surge that took Sunderland back to the Premiership as champions last season.
Evans returned to United still a teenager but with solid experience in the championship bear pit and with international credentials too, having come to prominence with Northern Ireland.
Evans was itching for a place in the first team. Although the central defensive pairing of Ferdinand and Vidic seemed an impregnable barrier to such ambition, Evans was outwardly confident that his day in the Old Trafford spotlight would not be long in coming.
“I’ll be involved in pre-season and he [Ferguson] has more or less said that I will get games,” Evans revealed last June. “I want to play for Manchester United. I am a Manchester United fan and it has been my aim since I signed for the club to get into the first team.
“The incentive is there for me now and I want to be good enough to be playing for Manchester United.”
But the first three months of the new season have proved to be something of a rude awakening for the 19 year old Irishman. Just when he thought he was within touching distance of the first eleven, Evans appears to be falling further behind.
At international level, the defender learned yesterday that he has been left out of the full Northern Ireland squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Denmark and Spain. Instead, he will get a run-out with the U21 side against Luxembourg and Moldova.
“It is the first time Evans, when fit, has been left out of the senior squad since making his debut in the memorable 3-2 victory over Spain in Belfast last year,” the BBC reported.
Another assured performance by Gerard Piqué in the demolition of Dynamo Kiev, which he capped with a well taken goal, has not only enhanced the Spaniard’s reputation but placed him at the front of the queue to replace either Rio Ferdinand or Vidic.
Such is the fall in Evans’ stock, that the defender, part of the team that suffered in the home League Cup defeat by Coventry, is now subject to rumour that Sir Alex is worried by his lack of progress. Indeed, it is also being suggested that the defender may be loaned out again in January or even sold, with Sunderland, Fulham and at least three Championship clubs eyeing his signature.
However, such rumours are believed to be wide of the mark. It is understood that an inquiry by Wolves boss Mick McCarthy to take Evans back to the Championship was rebuffed earlier this month. The Midlands club was made aware that the teenager is still part of United’s first teams plans.
A player of Evans’ promise should not see his career turned upside down in the space of three months. Northern Ireland cannot do without someone of his ability for long and Evans is talented enough to have a first team future at United if he maintains his progress.
Last February, Sir Alex was telling the press of the hope he holds out for Evans’ development and that of other youngsters to have emerged from the United academy.
“We have good coaches and have done well to develop players in the academy such as Jonny Evans, Craig Cathcart and Darron Gibson,” he said. “The three Irish boys are exceptionally good.”
Even though the new season has not worked out immediately as Evans might have hoped, it would seem absurdly premature to now be hanging ‘For Sale’ signs around the Irish prodigy’s neck.
