Why wouldnt Sunderland want a 26 year old centre-half who is an international captain and has won three league titles and five other pieces of domestic silverware? The Manchester United centre-half is approaching the peak years of his career and is quite possibly the clubs most important centre-half, with Argentine Marcos Rojo still settling in following a summer move from Sporting Lisbon. Evans is an experienced defender, having made 181 appearances for the club over the last six years. He would certainly be an upgrade on Wes Brown and John OShea - and Sir Alex Ferguson obviously agrees, having gotten rid of both three years ago in favour of keeping the Northern Irish defender in the first-team reckoning. It seems a long time ago now that Evans was donning the Black Cats strip, but he was described as a leader by Roy Keane when he played 35 times for Sunderland on loan during the 06/07 and 07/08 seasons. Despite his youth, Keane could see there was something about Evans.
Jonny was a centre-half. He had the qualities of a Manchester United player, and he was bringing them to Sunderland. For such a young man - he was nineteen - he was very mature, and a born leader. Jonny was unbelievable for us. I knew I was on a winner; I knew him, and I knew what he was about. I remembered an incident when I was still at United; thered been a fight in the canteen and Jonny had looked after himself well - I think he knocked the other lad out. I knew Jonny was tough. - Roy Keane, October 2014.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
