Source: Northern_Echo
Simpson still hopes to follow Evans? path
DANNY SIMPSON has not given up on figuring in Sir Alex Fergusons future plans and he hopes his switch to Newcastle United will help.
Simpson has been left behind by good friend and Manchester United team-mate Jonny Evans since the pair spent the first four months of 2007 on loan helping Sunderland to the Championship title under Roy Keane.
After returning to Old Trafford both defenders were soon out on loan again to Ipswich and Sunderland respectively.
Last season, though, was different.
While Simpson headed for Blackburn on a season-long deal, his former Academy team-mate made 18 Premier League appearances for the champions and appeared regularly in the Champions League.
Ive been frustrated at times because I went back to Manchester United and it looked as though I was going to get my break into the first team, said Simpson. We both really benefited from Sunderland and did well there.
There was talk of us both going back there the next year, but you can only loan one player from another Premier League club and it ended up being Jonny because Roy wanted a centre back most.
He got his experience playing every week for them. I stayed at United and got my seven, eight, nine games there and things were going pretty well for me. But I still needed to go out and get that regular experience so I went out to Blackburn last season.
But when Jonny came back, hed already got that and he has done brilliantly since then. Hes not looked back. Im not taking anything away from him, hes a top player.
Simpson does not turn 23 until January and he is convinced this latest move to Newcastle will make sure his career is back on track.
After a successful start to life on Tyneside, the rightback is in no doubt he will succeed.
He admits, though, that he is unsure whether he will have a future at Old Trafford.
Its a thin line in football sometimes, Jonny got that break at the right time, said Simpson, expected to start his sixth Championship match in a row against Plymouth today.
Where this route Ive had to take takes me I dont know, well wait until the end of the year and talk about it then.
Im just pleased its at a club like Newcastle. When youve been at United (Manchester) for as long as I have, it was hard the first time I went out on loan to Sunderland.
Id been at Old Trafford all my life and I had to adapt to a different environment, staff and teammates. Its easier now.
I havent thought too much about the long term. Im enjoying my football here and I feel comfortable here, but Im not making any big decisions about my future. Well see what happens in January. At the moment Im just glad to be playing first team football again.
