Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney believes that his former team-mate, Jonny Evans, should no longer be playing for the club. The Northern Ireland international has featured prominently this season due to Erik ten Hag’s defensive injury crisis.
Evans came through the United academy and spent nine years in the same dressing room as Rooney. The defender’s eight-year absence from Old Trafford ended last summer when, upon leaving Leicester City, he was allowed to train with the Red Devils to remain sharp.
Ten Hag was so impressed by what he saw that Evans was offered a short-term contract. Turning 36 years old midway through the campaign, the Belfast-born veteran featured in 23 of United’s 38 Premier League games.
United and their injury-hit squad ultimately spluttered to an eighth-place finish – their worst result in over 30 years. And Rooney feels that, for the club to move forward, players of Evans’ current calibre should not feature in the starting XI.
On pundit duties for the BBC before United’s FA Cup final clash with Manchester City on Saturday, Rooney was asked by Micah Richards which of the Red Devils’ current crop can be considered ‘leaders’.
“I only know two or three of them [personally],” he said. “Obviously, Jonny Evans has come back in. Jonny’s a leader, but realistically, Jonny shouldn’t be playing for Manchester United now, at this stage of his career.
“For me, I struggle to see a leader. When you see some players struggling in the way they have, [leaders] will protect those players. A lot of players at Manchester United at the minute are getting exposed.”
Evans’ short-term contract is due to expire next month, meaning the curtain may have already closed on his second stint at Old Trafford, as Ten Hag plumped for Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane as the centre-back pairing to face City.
Whether Evans remains at United may not be in Ten Hag’s hands at all, amid rumours that senior figures at the club have already decided to part ways with the manager, regardless of how the team fares at Wembley.
Ten Hag openly admitted during an interview with Voetbal International that a new central defender would be sought out this summer if he remains in his post at Old Trafford.
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