Erik ten Hag opens up on Jonny Evans signing for Man United on short-term deal

Jonny Evans has signed a short-term deal at Manchester United in order to participate in pre-season fixtures against Lyon and Wrexham.

Evans, 35, was an academy graduate at Old Trafford and left the club in the summer of 2015 after winning three Premier League titles during his time with the first-team.

The defender moved onto West Brom and then Leicester City in 2018, where he became a key experienced player in the squad.

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His contract at the King Power Stadium expired at the end of last month and he has since been training at Carrington with the United youth and first-team squads.

A club statement read: “Experienced defender Jonny Evans has signed a short-term deal to enable him to take part in Manchester United’s upcoming pre-season games in Edinburgh and San Diego.

“The Academy graduate had been training with the Under-21s whilst considering his options, following his departure from Leicester City at the end of last season.

“As part of the Academy training programme, he has also taken part in a number of first-team sessions and impressed Erik ten Hag and the coaching staff.”

Since, Evans has signed a deal that will allow him to help young players in two pre-season fixtures, as well as getting important minutes in his legs as well. It is unknown whether the deal could potentially be extended for the upcoming season.

Speaking on the 35-year-old ahead of the game against Lyon, Ten Hag praised his impact with the younger players in the squad.

“He came to train and work on his fitness, I said all the players weren’t in, I thought it was a good idea to help each other,” he told MYTV. “We know he’s a really experienced player, but also a big personality and authority, he can help the young players especially.”

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Evans has been named on the bench for the encounter in Scotland and will likely make a second-half appearance alongside a host of under-21 talent.