Jonny Evans credits his elevation at Manchester United to his time away on-loan at Sunderland.

Evans has spent time at both Sunderland and Royal Antwerp in recent seasons and said: "I can't speak more highly of my time at Sunderland and I am grateful to Roy Keane for giving me the chance to play Premier League football.

"I started in the Championship then went back for another spell and played about 15 games in the Premier League last season. We had to scrap and do a lot of defending at times.

"I would have been happy to go up there again but the manager here insisted I was not going anywhere and he tends to get his way, so that was it.

"But I realise I am gaining experiences not available anywhere else. Every time you play for Manchester United, you are scrutinised."