Manchester United often get transfers wrong but surprise arrival could make sense

There was a surprise arrival at Carrington as the remaining Manchester United players returned for pre-season nine days ago.

This publication's photographer was positioned outside the training ground to capture the stars reporting for training after their extended break and an image sent back to the desk appeared to show defender Jonny Evans arriving.

"One of these pics looks weirdly like Jonny Evans," someone said before enquiries were sent to contacts for confirmation. Evans had just been released from his contract at Leicester and it was indeed him reporting for training.

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Sources confirmed Evans had been training with both the academy and first-team group for the past week and they indicated it had benefited both parties, with the player using the facilities 'while lending his quality and experience'.

The arrangement came from technical director Darren Fletcher speaking to Evans, who was without a club. It's understood the pair remain close from their playing days and that Fletcher arranged for him to join training to maintain fitness.

Evans' presence was considered useful at Carrington and he was particularly helpful to younger players throughout the week. He'd been a positive influence and he was someone with multiple major honours for academy prospects to look up to.

Going back to where it all started, it was an enjoyable week for Evans and a club source said that it's part of United's philosophy that former players are always welcome back, especially those who came up through the academy.

Evans still lives locally and his wife, Helen, works for the club's in-house broadcaster MUTV as a presenter. She was pleased to see him back at Carrington and seemed in