Manchester United may be relieved to find that their international manager made a wise decision with a crucial squad member.

Injuries during international tournaments are unfortunate. Injuries in international friendlies are even more difficult to accept.

Jonny Evans, Manchester United’s centre-back, is no longer at risk. Northern Ireland has decided to exempt him from their final international match of the season.

The Northern Irish FA has confirmed that the experienced defender will have a well-deserved rest.

Jonny Evans’ newest

Jonny Evans appeared in Northern Ireland’s most recent match, a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Euro 2024 contenders Spain.

This was his first game since the FA Cup Final, where he helped Manchester United defeat City 2-1.

Northern Ireland is scheduled to play Andorra in another friendly, but Jonny Evans has not travelled with the team.

The Northern Irish FA claimed it was ‘unrealistic’ to expect Evans to play another game so soon after such a difficult season, citing injury concerns.

According to the press release: “Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill said Evans had some injury niggles during the regular season and he felt it was unrealistic to expect him to play another match after he was on the pitch for 90-plus minutes against Spain in Palma on Saturday.”

Evans has returned home from where Northern Ireland was located in Spain, rather than flying to Andorra with the rest of the group, as his 2023/24 season has ended.

Jonny Evans games played in 2023-24

Jonny Evans has had a very busy 2023/24 season, playing games at the highest level and being asked to perform more for Manchester United than anyone expected when he started training with the team last summer.

Evans, 36, was offered a contract on deadline day after impressing manager Erik ten Hag during the preseason.

Due to an injury problem, Evans has been playing a busy role, and his international games have added to the expectations.

Evans played 30 games for Manchester United in 2023/24, and he also played five games for Northern Ireland.

Injury concerns forced him to miss time, and he returned to aid United late in the season. Now he is taking a well-deserved break before considering what the future holds.