Former Premier League centre-back Michael Dawson has hailed Northern Ireland’s Jonny Evans as ‘incredible’ after his performance for Manchester United against Aston Villa at the weekend.
The 36-year-old was preferred to the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez for the game at Villa Park and excelled alongside Harry Maguire, helping the Red Devils keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.
Most notably, it was Evans who kept red-hot Ollie Watkins quiet in the Premier League clash, the England star barely having a sight at goal throughout the game as he was well marshalled by his marker.
Given United’s recent struggles, which have seen manager Erik ten Hag come under significant scrutiny, a clean sheet against a Villa side that defeated Bayern Munich in midweek was a welcome tonic for Evans and his team-mates.
And Dawson, who played 13 seasons in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur and Hull City, believes the former Northern Ireland defender was central to that success.
“Jonny looked a lot better than I would at his age playing at that level. Incredible,” hailed the four-times England capped defender, speaking on Sky Sports News.
“It’s amazing what experience can bring you and I think Manchester United needed that.
“I think it was a big call for Erik ten Hag to make. You’re taking De Ligt out, who you’ve just signed, you’re taking Martinez out, who is the main man for you, and you bring in Evans and Harry Maguire and I think he’s gone for the experience.
“Jonny Evans was magnificent, the way he played against Ollie Watkins. Sometimes that can happen.
“I saw Bayern Munich play against Ollie Watkins and they played him tight but that gave him space in behind (Dayot) Upamecano and he was causing all sorts of problems.
“He didn’t cause Jonny Evans problems because he didn’t let him get space in behind. When Villa tried to counter-attack, he just dropped off and used all his experience. Sometimes you can’t buy that.
“Manchester United players are lacking in confidence, you can see there’s all this scrutiny towards Ten Hag. Jonny Evans has been there, done that, got the t-shirt. He’s got the experience so he’s able to come in, it won’t worry him.
“He knows he’s coming towards the end of his career, I don’t think he’ll mind me saying that at 36, and he’s had a great career, great player. He provided that calmness in the back line for Manchester United.”