Football has always been a touted as a family sport and brothers like the Laudrups, the De Boers, the Cannavaros, the Inzaghis and the Toures all help enhance this but Manchester United seem to have a special place when it comes to footballing families.
Sir Bobby Charlton and Rio Ferdinand are both parts of footballing brothers whilst the Nevilles and the Da Silvas are footballing brothers that have made their name at United but now you can add the Evans brother to the list.
After a loan at Sunderland ,Jonny Evans has burst onto the Manchester United first team scene and cemented his place in the squad and his younger brother Corry is looking to do the same thing.
Having joined United as a 15 year old school boy when Jonny came over to join the club, Corry has worked his way into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reserve side and now is just waiting for his chance to jump into the first team.
By the time he signed for the club as a trainee in 2006, Corry had already become a regular for the u18s team and in the 06/07 season he made 19 u18 appearances and scored once. In 07/08 he made a further 25 academy appearances for United grabbing 3 goals but also added to his reserve appearances after making his debut in a 2005 with a substitute appearance against Oldham Athletic.
Evans impressed in his 5 reserve appearances and was became a main stay in the 2008/2009 season making 23 appearances and even grabbing a goal. Ole Gunnar Solkskjaer was so impressed with the young Evans appearances that he was handed the captain’s armband for a period and was nominated for reserve player of the year, losing out to Matt James.
It was thought Corry would make his debut against Hull in the final game of last season but he didn’t make it off the bench but having been handed the #31 this season he is expected to make a few appearances for the first team.
Evans is a strong and consistent performer who can play in both central midfield or the center of defence. He is strong in the tackle, reads the game well and has good technique whilst on the ball serving him well when playing in either position.
Corry has also played for Northern Ireland at a number of levels and like his brother made his full international debut before having played made a first team appearance for United.
Corry has the potential to make the jump to the first team just like his brother, but perhaps he could do with a loan spell to prepare him like Jonny did with Sunderland. Rangers have looked at him and indicated a willingness to take him on loan and if he does go and develops into the player he is expected to then we could have the exciting prospect of the Da Silva twins on each flank with the Evans brothers at the heart of the defence, an occurrence I’m sure that has never happened before in football.
