WEARSIDE legend Charlie Hurley believes Jonny Evans should be top of Sunderland’s shopping list in the summer. Manchester United man Evans is on loan on Wearside until the end of the season and has been in excellent form since joining the club last month, helping the Black Cats keep three clean sheets in the five Premier League games he has played. Evans (right) is very highly rated by Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson – but Hurley reckons Sunderland still have a chance of persuading Man Utd to part with the Northern Ireland international centre-back. He said: “I think Sir Alex Ferguson will be quite happy for Jonny to go on loan to Sunderland because he knows that Roy Keane will get the player playing at his best. “The loan deal has worked out well for everybody, because I’m sure Jonny would rather be playing for Roy in the Premiership than playing for Manchester United reserves. “But Jonny is a terrific player and he would be worth breaking the bank for if there is any chance of signing him full-time. “He’s done extremely well as a loan signing and he would be even better as a permanent buy – you can bet that Roy Keane would love to sign him in the summer. “And if Manchester United win a trophy this season – either the Premiership or the Champions League – I think there is a chance Sir Alex might let Jonny go. “But if he doesn’t win any silverware, I think they’ll want to keep him.” Evans also spent the second half of last season on loan with Sunderland and played a huge part in helping the Black Cats win the Championship and promotion to the top flight. He has joined Sunderland at the same stage again, although this time it is Premiership survival – rather than promotion – at stake. Keane gave the 20-year-old his first-team debut last season – and handed him his Premier League debut this time around. And while he has only made a handful of Premier League appearances so far, ex-Republic of Ireland centre-back Hurley has seen enough of him this season and last to know that he will go far. “Jonny has been tremendous in the Premiership, just like he was in the Championship last season,” said Hurley. “He’s got bags of potential. “It’s a different game nowadays to when I was playing but, as an ex-centre half, I like what I have seen of Jonny. “He doesn’t worry about putting his body on the line for the team by going in where it hurts. “You do well to get a real winner in one in every four players – I’m talking about a guy who would die out there for the team. Not someone who is fine when everything is going well, but when things go against you he is nowhere to be seen. “However, Jonny is one of those players – he is a winner.” Evans was questioned in December over an allegation of rape at the Manchester United players’ Christmas party and is due to answer police bail next week, although doubts over the alleged victim’s story make it unlikely that there will be any further action taken. | 
