Jonny Evans turns out for the Under 21s against Southampton.
Manchester United have received a timely boost when it comes to getting their injured players back out on the field, report the Mail, after Jonny Evans came through the Under 21 match against Southampton on Monday night seemingly unscathed as he steps up his return to action.
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Evans has not played for the United first team since the calamitous 5-3 defeat at Leicester City in September, during which the Northern Irish international departed the pitch through injury, although he did feature in a 5-0 win for the club’s reserve side against Blackburn Rovers in the Lancashire Senior Cup last week.
United have been struggling with defensive injuries all season as centre backs Evans, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo have all spent significant spells on the sidelines, leading to unproven youngsters such as Phil McNair and Tyler Blackett promoted to first team duties ahead of schedule.
Evans will be hoping to come back into Louis van Gaal’s plans in the coming weeks as United’s injured defenders begin to return to the first team, potentially giving the Dutchman some selection headaches as Evans’ young compatriot McNair, in particular, has impressed since being promoted to senior action.