JONNY EVANS was a distant memory at Old Trafford last summer, now he’s 90 minutes away from winning the FA Cup with his boyhood club.
Evans, 36, has revealed the phone call from an old teammate that led to his spectacular return to Man Utd this season.
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The seasoned pro spent almost 10 years with United in his first spell at the club before leaving in 2015 for West Brom.
But he penned a new short-term deal at the Theatre of Dreams last summer – after joining the squad in training to maintain his fitness when he found himself released by former club Leicester City.
Evans has revealed that his miraculous return can be traced back to a chance phone call with former teammate Darren Fletcher, who is now the Red Devils’ technical director.
Speaking to The Athletic, Evans said: “I was sat in my house with my wife Helen and thinking, ‘I’m not a good trainer on my own in terms of going out on the roads running’.
“Maybe the odd run or two over the years when I’ve needed to but without thinking about it, I just thought, ‘I’ll ring Fletch [Darren Fletcher]’.
“He answered and said, ‘Let me get back to you’. When I put the phone down, I thought, ‘There might be issues with insurance, for example’, but I just wanted to train and get my fitness.
“Fletch called back a few days later and said, ‘The manager has heard that you want to come in. You may as well train with the first team’, so I did.”
That chance phone call turned into training sessions, and those training sessions eventually turned into a contract offer.
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Erik ten Hag was hit with defensive injuries early in the campaign and Evans was offered his deal to come in as a back-up option for United.
What he didn’t expect was for those injury issues to persist and the Northern Ireland international to make 29 appearances this season – forming a crucial cog in Ten hag’s disfunctional machine.
Evans added: “From there, the situation progressed daily.
“There was no intimation to me that the manager wanted to sign me with a contract but the injury situation prevailed right from the start of the season.
“There’s never been a stage this season where it wasn’t an issue.
“But I’m an experienced Premier League player and I’ve been in many a training session over the years, including at United.”
Evans slipped into the role with ease once he was called upon and now he could help Man Utd lift the FA Cup at Wembley this afternoon.
The central defender, who won the FA Cup with Leicester in 2021, knows his side are underdogs going into the clash with Man City but has called on his team to play like they can get the better of the neighbours.
He said: “We’ll be underdogs on Saturday. Every team would be against Man City, especially with how they are playing — but we are Man United.
“We can’t think like we’re underdogs. We respect City as a team but we must do everything we can and we will.
“We had it with Leicester when we beat Chelsea [in 2021] after Youri Tielemens got a screamer of a goal. It can be done.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have a busy summer ahead to get Man Utd's squad in order for next season. Below SunSport gives it verdict on how they should deal with the Red Devils flops this summer.
Andre Onana – STAY: After a dodgy start at Old Trafford Onana has proven to be one of the more reliable members of the squad this season despite being peppered with shots constantly.
Altay Bayindir – GO: Reports in February suggested Bayindir was unhappy with his bit part role at Man Utd amid interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray. If profit can be made on a sale then it should be done.
Tom Heaton – STAY: Veteran goalkeeper Heaton, 38, is a reliable back-up and is on a relatively small wage at the club. So long as he is happy it makes sense to keep him.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – GO: Wan-Bissaka, 26, has never managed to make the right-back position his own. With his contract up in 2025 it makes sense to cash in now.
Diogo Dalot – STAY: Dalot, 26, has been one of Man Utd’s most consistent performers this season.
Raphael Varane – GO: If it wasn’t for his injury record there would be a strong shout to keep Varane, but costs need to be cut to allow the squad to be freshened up.
Harry Maguire – GO: Maguire has showed he has the right character to be at Man Utd but overall ability and desired profile are another matter, with Maguire too slow to play in a high line defence.
Lisandro Martinez – STAY: Martinez, 26, is second to none in terms of build up play. He needs a long-term defensive partner on the right side and to cut out the injuries which have plagued him this season.
Jonny Evans – GO: Veteran campaigner Evans could easily be on the stay list if he was only going to be a bit part player. But he has shown his advanced years at times this season.
Victor Lindelof – GO: Lindelof, 29, has been reliable if not unremarkable in his Man Utd career. He has one year left on his contract so should be moved on if a decent transfer fee can be got for him.
Willy Kambwala – STAY: He should be given the opportunity to mature for a few years behind a senior CB pairing before stepping into the first team as a starter or being moved on.
Luke Shaw – GO: One of the Premier League’s best left-backs when fit, Shaw has been a good servant when available. But alas that has been his Achilles heel once again this season.
Tyrell Malacia – STAY: Malacia, 24, was decent enough to earn some merit in his first season at Man Utd before injury ended his season and inadvertently led to his second season being a write off.
Sofyan Amrabat – GO: Amrabat, 27, looked like a world beater at the Qatar World Cup with Morocco. But he’s had an underwhelming season in England and his loan spell will almost certainly not be made permanent.
Casemiro – GO: An alarming physical decline has seen him turn from key star to burden. If a club is willing to buy the 32-year-old – who has two more years on his contract – then United should snatch their hand off.
Christian Eriksen – GO: Eriksen proved a useful asset and Ineos should look to bring in another player with similar traits, but frankly his legs have looked gone towards the end of this season.
Kobbie Mainoo – STAY: The first of the so-called untouchables, Mainoo has been a rare glimmer of hope in the Red Devils midfield this season.
Mason Mount – STAY: Mount can be given the benefit of the doubt until summer 2025 at least after a debut season riddled with injury.
Scott McTominay – STAY: McTominay, 27, has proven himself to be a brilliant plan B off the bench this season, and that is exactly why Ineos should look to keep him.
Bruno Fernandes – STAY: Man Utd’s best player since his arrival just over four years ago, Fernandes, 29, remains second-to-none when it comes to creating chances while his tenacity boosts those around him.
Antony – GO: There’s a case to argue that Antony may be the worst pound-for-pound signing in Premier League history. Despite some memorable moments he simply isn’t Man Utd quality.
Anthony Martial – GO: Ultimately Martial needs to be let go when his deal runs out this summer after an appalling injury record of late.
Marcus Rashford – STAY: As easy as it would be to say Rashford should leave the club this summer, it is difficult to look at the market and find many available players capable of scoring 30 goals a season.
Alejandro Garnacho – STAY: Another third of the untouchables trio, Garnacho has made the right-wing his own since coming into it. He’s a raw talent but has shown he has the quality to improve.
Rasmus Hojlund – STAY: A slow burner in his first Man Utd season, the 21-year-old has often been starved of supply which has led to him being unable to get the goals his movement and unselfish play often merits.
Amad Diallo – STAY: In the fleeting moments he has been on the pitch for Man Utd this season, Diallo has looked dangerous and exciting. He should be given a chance to flourish with some proper chances in the first team across a whole season.
