Northern Ireland star Jonny Evans is destined to captain his country and Manchester United, according to former Red Devil Norman Whiteside.
The 48-year-old spent seven years at Old Trafford in the 80s and is confident his compatriot has the credentials of a born leader.
Evans collected his third Premier League winners’ medal last season and Whiteside believes United’s loan system si to thank for his impressive development.
“I’m sure he will be captain of Northern Ireland before too long,” Whiteside told the club website. “Because he’d be one of the best players, I would have thought he would be captain already – I’ve not yet seen him wear the armband though.
“Jonny has done brilliantly – I think it’s his third Premier League title and he’s got stronger and stronger.
“Even going back to him getting sent to Royal Antwerp and Sunderland, that gives players a lot of confidence when they are playing regular football.
“It’s what they are sent out for – to come back a better player – and so did Danny Welbeck. It shows you the loan system works.”
And Whiteside, capped 38 times by his country, believes Old Trafford is a hotbed for producing potential Northern Irish stars, most notably United legend George Best.
“Over the years, Manchester United have traditionally had players from Northern Ireland,” he added. “Before me even, there were people like George Best and Sammy McIlroy and now there’s Jonny.
“There has always been a great association with Northern Irish players, and ones from all over Ireland in the Republic as well as the North.”
Image courtesy of The FA, via YouTube.
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