United Defender Completes Loan Move

UNITED DEFENDER COMPLETES LOAN MOVE

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has today joined Sunderland on loan until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old centre-back has been training with the Black Cats this week after meeting boss Roy Keane last week.

He has signed for Sunderland until June and will be available for Saturday’s trip to Preston in the third round of the FA Cup at Deepdale.

“I’m delighted with the signing,” said Keane. “Jonny has been so enthusiastic since the moment I spoke to him, and that’s great – he cant wait to get started.”

Belfast-born Evans has been at United’s Academy for three years, although is yet to make his professional debut, despite a strong season in United’s reserves in 2005-06. He enjoyed some first-team experience during the 2006 pre-season programme when he featured in two of three games on the club's tour of South Africa, and then also started in domestic friendlies against Celtic and Preston.

When injuries crippled a stronger United squad out in the Netherlands for the Amsterdam Tournament, Evans was also flown out to bolster the defensive ranks and started the second game against Ajax, putting in an impressive performance.

He has spent a part of the current campaign on loan at one of United's feeder clubs, Royal Antwerp, and has played 11 games for the Belgians, scoring two goals.

Evans also made his full international debut for Northern Ireland in September last year, playing as a left-back in a famous 3-2 victory over Spain in the European Championships qualifiers, as well as playing in qualifiers against Denmark and Latvia.


JONNY EVANS – THE RECORD
Born: Belfast, 2.1.88 (19)
Nationality: Northern Ireland (3 caps)
Position: Centre-back/left-back
Height: 6ft 1ins (187cm)
Weight: 12st 2lbs (77kg)

LEAGUE AND CUP APPS GOALS
Manchester United (2005-07) 0 0
Royal Antwerp (2006) 11 2
TOTAL 11 2