Belfast-born Jonathan Evans is a tall and agile centre-back. An intelligent defender, he combines an uncompromising physical approach with the ability to pass the ball out from the back.

He has proven himself to be strong in the tackle and dominant in the air at youth level, and in 2005/06 he made significant inroads into United’s Reserves, playing 14 matches and contributing two goals.

He was also handed a European squad number at the start of the season and trained and travelled with the first team squad. He was included in the group that went to Paris to face Lille Metropole in November 2005.

Jonny's unquestioned promise led to a shock international call-up to the senior Northern Ireland side at the start of the 2006/07 season.

His outstanding displays on the international stage, together with some phenomenal performances on loan for Royal Antwerp, lend credence to the notion that Evans has what it takes to forge a career for himself in United's first team.

Evans' development certainly caught the eye of his boyhood hero Roy Keane. The Sunderland manager snapped up the youngster within days of his Antwerp loan ending. Jonny spent the rest of the 2006/07 season at the

Stadium of Light, and tasted defeat just once in 19 appearances as the Black Cats stormed into the Premier League as champions.

Evans' fine form on Wearside caught the eye of many clubs, but he remained at Old Trafford for the first half of the 2007/08 season, featuring in the Carling Cup defeat to Coventry and the Champions League group games with Dynamo Kyiv (home) and AS Roma (away).

Chances remained limited for Evans and he rejoined Sunderland on loan in January until the end of the campaign. He made 16 appearances helping Sunderland to a 15th place finish.

He

featured in every one of United's pre-season games ahead of the 2008/09 season and will be hoping for further opportunities as the campaign progresses.