Jonny Evans can give Erik ten Hag something no other Manchester United player can

Erik ten Hag will be facing an important decision before the transfer window shuts in September. With former club captain Harry Maguire potentially set to leave the club soon, there could be a gap to fill in the centre of defence for Manchester United.

Maguire was fifth-choice centre-back last season, falling behind Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane as well as Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw, who impressed in his makeshift central role. If Maguire does leave, former United man Jonny Evans is poised to take his spot as a back-up option.

The Belfast-born defender’s contract has been the shock deal of the summer for United so far. Evans rejoined his boyhood club on a short-term deal, one which specifically allowed him to play in friendly matches. It was an unexpected move by Ten Hag, but one with clear benefits.

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A boyhood United fan, Evans grew up in Belfast but moved to Manchester as a 15-year-old to train full-time with United’s youth team. He rose to prominence for United across eight full seasons and made nearly 200 senior appearances for the Reds.

Since leaving, Evans has remained in the Premier League for the last eight seasons, turning out for West Bromwich Albion and, more recently, Leicester City. It is still unclear whether 35-year-old Evans will have the chance to play in United red again.

He started United's 3-1 pre-season defeat to Wrexham, in which United fielded a youthful line-up, barring Evans. He also came off the bench against Lyon in the second friendly match of the summer, as well as the final match