Jonathan Evans

A highly rated young defender currently playing for Manchester United.

A technically sound centre back with intelligence and composure rarely found in a defender of his age, as well as the versatility to also operate at full back, Jonny has served as a more than capable understudy for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic for most of his time in the senior ranks but really seized his chance and caught the eye when injury to the latter offered the opportunity of regular football last season.

A boyhood United fan, Jonny joined the club as a trainee in July 2004 and swiftly progressed through the youth ranks to the reserve team and then senior football, serving notice of his immense potential during loan spells with Royal Antwerp and, twice, Sunderland, where he was part of Roy Keane’s promotion winning side in 2007 and won the club’s Young Player of the Year award. Jonny made his full Northern Ireland debut in September 2006, before he had even appeared for the Reds’ first team, and picked up his 29th cap against Norway in February 2012.