Rio Ferdinand says Jonny Evans has exceeded his expectations since rejoining Manchester United and believes the experienced center-back has possibly been the club’s ‘best defender’ this season.
Eyebrows were raised when United revealed that Evans, 36, had agreed to a short-term contract at Old Trafford last summer, eight years after his initial spell with United concluded.
Evans had been training with United’s Under-21 team after departing Leicester City at the conclusion of last season and impressed Erik ten Hag, who permitted the Red Devils to rehire the Northern Ireland international.
The center-back has made 17 appearances for United in all competitions, including 12 starts in the Premier League, receiving widespread praise for his performance in the final years of his career.
Earlier this month, Ferdinand argued that Evans’ substitution in the second half of the Manchester derby caused a ‘significant disruption’ for United as City came from behind to defeat their fierce rivals 3-1 at the Etihad.
And while Ferdinand has stated that Evans ‘shouldn’t be at the club’, but he acknowledges that his former teammate has proven him wrong with his conduct throughout the campaign.
‘He’s arguably been our top defender this year and that's saying something,’ the renowned former United and England defender told Cool FM News in Northern Ireland.
‘When he initially signed, even though he’s my friend and I played with him, I was like: “Wow, why are we signing Jonny at this time?! Are we moving backwards?”
‘But he’s come in and when he’s been asked to do a job, he’s performed really well.
‘I was with him the other day at the training ground and he has surprised himself with the amount of game-time he’s had, but then you’ve got to go out there and perform and play.
‘That’s a credit to him as a professional footballer as well because you’ve got to prepare yourself and you’ve got to be ready for those moments, and he has been so good luck to him.’
Ferdinand also praised Evans’ fellow countryman Conor Bradley, who has proven to be a more than capable backup to Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool this season.
‘He’s a modern day full-back, up and down. He’s very comfortable in attacking areas,’ Ferdinand added.
‘As I’ve mentioned before with Kobbie [Mainoo], he hasn’t seemed fazed.
‘You have to remember that there’s an added layer for him. He’s come in and replaced one of the best full-backs in the world in Trent.
‘That’s a pressure that I’ve not really heard anyone talk about. That’s a big pressure, that.
‘It’s not like he’s coming in for one of the average players in the team… he’s coming in for one of the mainstays in the team so that brings a huge amount of pressure that he seems to have dealt with really well.
'He appears to be a good young man and he seems to be someone who has put in a lot of effort behind the scenes for a long time to reach where he is, so he deserves it.'
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