NI boss Michael O’Neill: Jonny Evans will be wanted man if he exits Manchester United

Evans is included in next month’s international friendlies with Spain and Andorra, which is a hint he has no intention of retiring at the end of this season even though recent reports suggest he will not be offered a new contract at Old Trafford.

The Northern Ireland manager certainly hopes that the 36-year-old defender remains available for this autumn’s Nations League campaign.

O’Neill said: “I will have that conversation with Jonny in Spain about his international future.

“It may be determined by what happens at Manchester United.

“But you can’t tell what way these things will go. I think Jonny has done himself no harm this season, as he has been an important player for Manchester United in a difficult season, a team that has had a lot of challenges.

“There are a lot of managers out there that would love to have Jonny Evans at their club. You don’t know what opportunities will be presented to players.

“From my point of view, I want to see Jonny continue to play for club and country.”

O’Neill offered Evans the opportunity to sit out the trip to Spain, but the veteran defender made it clear he wanted to be involved.

He said: “Jonny has had to manage an injury throughout the season. He has put the team before himself at times this year, playing when maybe not 100 per cent.

“He now has the FA Cup Final to look forward to.

“I gave Jonny the choice to skip this, but he said he wanted to be involved and I want to play.”

Jonny will be joined in the squad by his younger brother Corry. It’s the first time the midfielder has been included in the international panel since suffering a dreadful ACL injury playing for Sunderland in January 2023.

O’Neill believes this trip gives Corry – who has been released by the Black Cats – the opportunity to put himself in the shop window.

He said: “It’s been tough for Corry. I was at the game where Corry injured himself – I remember talking to him after that game, and he said, ‘It will be fine, I’ll just be out for a few weeks'.

“Then, we got the news it was his ACL. It was a tough recovery. He was out for 18 months.

“It’s never easy when you’re on the other side of 30. When you come back, there’s always other little injuries that hold you back. Corry’s had calf problems since his return.

“He did get some minutes before leaving Sunderland, which is positive. He’s in that vacuum where he is looking for a new club.

“I think spending a couple of weeks with us will help him with that, as well as helping us. He’s keen to be involved.”

O’Neill said he had no hesitation in selecting the likes of Corry Evans and Josh Magennis, even though they are currently without a club.

He explained: “The players have that choice. I had a conversation with Josh, who is obviously in the same situation as Corry.

“I said, 'Look, if it's an issue for you, I fully understand that', but both players were very keen to come and be involved and play.

“It's never easy, that situation.

“For those lads in particular, Josh has maybe been in it, but I don't think Corry has been in this position before in his career.

“It's an uncertain time, but they're both at an age and point in their career where they've the experience to deal with it, and what this gives them is a bit of an opportunity.

“People can see that they're still involved at international level, and hopefully, if people pick up the phone to me over the summer and ask me how they are, I'm able to say they're in good shape.”

Defender Paddy McNair will miss the doubler-header due to his wedding, while midfielder George Saville will miss out due to a calf injury. O’Neill agreed to allow Derby County forward Conor Washington a post-season rest.

Young Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper squad Pierce Charles has been selected for the first time ahead of other more experienced options.

O’Neill said: "We've known about Pierce for quite a while. He played for the Under-21s out in Serbia and put in a great performance. It was a great result for Tommy (Wright, NI Under-21s boss) to win away in Serbia against a strong Serbian team and an older Serbian team than what we had on the night.

"Pierce is one of those goalkeepers that everyone is looking for in the modern game. He's got great distribution, real composure with the ball at his feet, and we know at Sheffield Wednesday, they really regard him highly.”

Northern Ireland play Spain at Son Moix in Palma (Mallorca) on Saturday, June 8 (8.30pm BST). Up next is a game against Andorra at Estadio Nueva Condomina in Murcia on Tuesday, June 11 (7.45pm BST).