Jonny Evans was a Rolls Royce player who Manchester United should never have let go says former teammate
Jonny Evans said his goodbyes to Old Trafford on Sunday as his second spell with Manchester United drew to a close.
After eight years away from the club Evans made a surprise return in 2023 going on to lift the FA Cup a year later.
The 37-year-old clocked up 241 appearances for United following his debut in 2006, but one of his former Northern Ireland teammates says Evans should never have been allowed to leave the club the first time around.
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Keith Gillespie, who also played for the Red Devils, called Evans "a Rolls Royce type of player" as he paid tribute to the big defender.
"He's been an incredible player, one of the greats for Northern Ireland without a shadow of a doubt," said Gillespie.
"He's had a great career and for me Manchester United should never have got rid of him when they did.
"It was great for him to come back in the latter stages of his career and come back to the club he loves and served so well.
"For Northern Ireland he barely put a foot wrong, he was a Rolls Royce type of player.
"Careers come to an end at some stage, but he can certainly go out on a high given the career he's had and the way he's conducted himself and the way he's performed for club and country."
Meanwhile, Gillespie added it is no surprise to him that Rangers are contemplating bringing Steven Davis back to the club as part of a new coaching set-up.
Former boss Steven Gerrard is believed to be a front runner for the vacant managerial position at Ibrox and reports suggest Davis could form part of his backroom team.
Gillespie though feels Michael O'Neill will not want to lose the former international captain from his own coaching panel.
"The knowledge Steven has and the career that he's had I could certainly see him in management but it's not as easy as that as you have to do that number 2 role first and learn the job," said Gillespie.
"I know he had a spell as caretaker at Rangers and I'm sure he enjoyed that, he's certainly young and hungry and he'll certainly want to do that.
"There is a difference if he just wants to be a coach or a number 2 or a manager, that's up to him. Certainly with his knowledge it's no surprise that Rangers are potentially looking at him.
"I know Michael wants to keep him in the Northern Ireland set-up and that's because of the experience he has and the way the younger player coming through will look up to someone like Steven Davis."
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