Jonny Evans: I considering retiring before Man United return

Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans said he faced the end of his career last year due to a succession of injuries before being handed a lifeline from his former club Manchester United.

Evans suffered calf injuries at Leicester City and was released by the club at the end of last season following relegation to the Premier League.

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The 35-year-old was then offered a short-term contract by United on transfer deadline day and has made four appearances since his return, starting in league wins over Burnley and Brentford.

I think I went through a stage last year where you start to think: ‘maybe this is coming to an end’,” Evans told a press conference before the qualifier of Northern Ireland at Euro 2024 against Slovenia later on Tuesday.

“I couldn’t recover from my injuries, and every time I came back, I collapsed. A lot of people told me, ‘You’re not close to finishing,’ but you have to realize that prove to yourself and I feel that I was able to do it.

“I’ve been training a lot, putting it all behind me, finishing games,” added Evans, who came through United’s academy and played more than 190 times for the club during his first stint between 2006 and 2015, winning three Premier League titles.

“Every time you finish a match you think: ‘there’s another one to lose’. Sometimes you have to confirm that to yourself and I’m happy that I was able to go through this process. I feel like I’m in a good place place.”

United are 10th in the Premier League and face bottom club Sheffield United on Saturday.