Jonny Evans is relishing his return to Manchester United after fearing his career was winding down last season.
Evans re-signed for United in the summer, eight years after leaving for West Brom, initially on a short-term deal after an injury-ravaged season for Leicester that saw him play just 14 times as the Foxes suffered relegation to the Championship.
The 35-year-old has struggled with a calf problem for some time but has flourished once again at Old Trafford, starting two of United’s last three Premier League games.
Speaking ahead of Northern Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Slovenia tomorrow night, Evans said: “I went through a stage last year where I started thinking maybe it is coming to an end.
“There’s no doubt I did have those thoughts. At the time I couldn’t get over injuries and every time I came back, I was breaking down.
“I had lots of people telling me there’s no way you’re close to finishing, but you have to prove that to yourself and I feel like I’ve been able to do that.
“Every time you complete a match you think, ‘There’s another one, I can do that’, and sometimes you just have to confirm that to yourself. I’ve been pleased I’ve been able to go through that process and I feel in a good place.”
Northern Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 were extinguished last month with a 4-2 defeat in the reverse fixture in Ljubljana. They did, however, enjoy a 3-0 win over San Marino at the weekend.
