Cats ‘won’t get’ Jonny

May 27 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

IT is the central defensive partnership which has been the bedrock of Sunderland’s last two seasons, but Nyron Nosworthy is resigned to not playing alongside Jonny Evans again next term.

Nevertheless, he believes the Ulsterman has set a benchmark for the quality of player his club needs this summer.

Two years running Evans has joined the Black Cats on loan midway through a campaign and inspired an upsurge in fortunes, winning the club’s young player of the year award on both occasions.

The Wearsiders seem certain to try to make the deal permanent this summer, but manager Roy Keane has consistently played down the prospects of achieving that. With Gerard Pique set for an imminent move to Barcelona and Mikael Silvestre interested in joining Bordeaux, Manchester United will be short on cover at both centre-back and left-back, new signings notwithstanding.

So it seems unlikely they would sanction the departure of the highly-rated Evans, who can play in both positions. And Nosworthy does not envisage that happening, either.

“I can’t really see us getting Jonny Evans unless it was for another season on loan,” he said. “I can’t see him coming permanently. He is a terrific player and I hope we do sign him but I just can’t see it.”

Evans is thought to be leaning more towards a permanent stay at the Stadium of Light. The defender returned to Old Trafford with high expectations last summer but was disappointed by the lack of first-team opportunities he received.

With his girlfriend studying in the North East and the rapport he has with his Sunderland team-mates and fans there are plenty of incentives to leave but Evans has supported the Red Devils since childhood, his brother Corry plays for the club’s youth team and his parents live in the North West.

Many have noticed the excellent relationship Nosworthy and Evans have on the field and the Brixton-born defender revealed their off-the-field bond is as strong.

“He is a big friend of mine on and off the pitch,” Nosworthy said. “He is a cool guy. He is down to earth and most of us are so we all get on together. That’s the main thing in this squad.

“He isn’t saying anything really about his future. He is saying he will just chill out and what will be will be. The two clubs will have to talk and see what happens.

“I’m able to express myself properly alongside Jonny. We understand each other. He covers my back and I cover his. We are always talking to each other.”

The Black Cats have also been linked with their former left-back George McCartney. The Northern Ireland international was a Premier League ever-present for West Ham United last season and one of their most consistent performers.

But Hammers manager Alan Curbishley has a long-standing interest in Nicky Shorey and with relegated Reading prepared to sell, McCartney could find himself marginalised at Upton Park. McCartney left Sunderland during Niall Quinn’s brief spell as caretaker-manager, when he was swapped for fellow left-back Clive Clarke.

Keane’s decision to release Ian Harte (Clarke’s contract was cancelled midway through last season) leaves Sunderland without a specialist senior left-back. Danny Collins was arguably the Black Cats’ best performer from that position last term, however, despite being a centre-half by preference.