Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia says Jonny Evans can go on to become a Manchester United great.

Sbragia, a former United coach, told the Independent on Sunday: "He can be the captain of Manchester United. He'll be at United all his life. I'd have thought that Alex sees him as potential captain material long term. You could see him making a lot of appearances at United - I could see him making more appearances than Giggsy [Ryan Giggs].

"I can never see him leaving Man U. He'll be [there] until he's 33, 34 years old. He loves the place. He's going to be one of the best players in the League over the next few years."

"The first time I saw him play he was 16," Sbragia said. "Straightaway he looked a player. A key thing about him was his family - good background, they'd looked after him and they are nice people. His brother Corry is at United - they're different. Jonny's the sensible one.

"Jonny came in so relaxed, so composed. He had total belief in what he's got, he does not have that fear you sometimes see in young players. I don't think he ever gets nervous. At United the foundations are good and they've got money, which helps, but the scouting is good, people who've really got an eye for a player. And Jonny was spotted, the reports came back that he was special."