Jonny Evans has been backed to become a future
Manchester United captain and even break Ryan Giggs' appearance
record.
Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia, who knows Evans well from his
time at the helm of the Old Trafford reserve team, has tipped the
Northern Ireland international to become a Red Devils legend.
On top of witnessing Evans' emergence as a youngster, Sbragia
crossed paths with the gifted centre-back when he spent time on
loan with the Black Cats under former United midfielder Roy
Keane.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has handed Evans 23 appearances
this season despite having Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic as his
first-choice partnership.
And Sbragia told the Independent on Sunday: "He can be
the captain of Manchester United. He'll be at United all his
life.
"I'd have though that Alex sees him as potential captain
material long term. You could see him making a lot of appearances
at United - I could see him making more appearances than
Giggsy.
"I can never see him leaving Man U. He'll be (there) until he's
33, 34 years old. He loves the place. He's going to be one of the
best players in the league over the next few years."
Sbragia believes United's scouting network should take all the
credit for spotting Evans' talents as a youngster.
He added: "The first time I saw him play he was 16. Straightaway
he looked a player. The first minute I saw him, you just knew he
had something.
"Jonny came in so relaxed, so composed. He had total belief in
what he's got, he does not have that fear you sometimes get in
young players. I don't think he ever gets nervous.
"At United the foundations are good and they've got money, which
helps, but the scouting is good, people who've really got an eye
for a player. And Jonny was spotted, the reports came back that he
was special."