Northern Ireland defender, Jonny Evans, has revealed how he thought his professional career might be drawing to a close last year due to a series of persistent injuries. However, he was offered a lifeline by his former club, Manchester United, which has revitalized his career.
Evans, now 35 years old, encountered a challenging period with calf injuries while at Leicester City and was released by the club at the conclusion of the previous season following their Premier League relegation.
On transfer deadline day, Manchester United extended a short-term deal to Evans, which proved to be pivotal in his resurgence. Since returning to the club, he has made four appearances, including starts in league victories over Burnley and Brentford.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Northern Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Slovenia, Evans reflected on his journey, saying, “I think I went through a stage last year where you start thinking, ‘maybe this is it coming to an end.'” He acknowledged the doubts that crept in due to his recurrent injuries, explaining, “I couldn’t get over the injuries, and every time I came back I was breaking down. I had a lot of people say, ‘there’s no way you’re close to finishing,’ but you have to prove that to yourself, and I feel I’ve been able to do that.”
In his determination to overcome the setbacks, Evans emphasized his rigorous training and match experience as critical factors in his recovery. He noted, “I’ve trained a lot, getting all that behind me, completing matches.” Evans, who initially came through Manchester United’s academy and made over 190 appearances for the club during his first stint from 2006 to 2015, winning three Premier League titles, added, “Every time you complete a match, you think, ‘there’s another one down.’ Sometimes you’re having to confirm that to yourself, and I’ve been pleased I’ve been able to go through that process. I feel I’m in a good place.”
Currently, Manchester United stands in 10th place in the Premier League and is set to face the bottom-ranked club, Sheffield United, in their upcoming match on Saturday. Jonny Evans’ resurgence provides the club with an experienced presence as they aim to improve their standing in the league.
