It's very easy to feel cynical about things with the way the news cycle is constantly peddled around Manchester United.
Scott McTominay noted this after his heroics against Brentford last time out, saying: “Sometimes we feel like we are in our own bubble with people outside only saying negative things.”
And he's right. What gets clicks and attention? Words and opinion guaranteed to wind you up, provoke a reaction, generate debate.
This and the often unfounded transfer talk that does not even seem to abate when the window is closed. It feels like most conversations around a game ultimately lead back to a discussion around a potential new signing.
You'd hope you don't get sucked into it, but you do, and even I confess I've been guilty of this, although it was only something I realised when speaking to Jonny Evans at Carrington recently.
I've worked at United long enough to remember chats with Jonny in his first spell here, including doing a podcast with him and his wife Helen, which was tremendously relaxed and fun. I was one of many fans upset when he was allowed to leave for West Brom in 2015, and not purely from the professional standpoint that he was so enjoyable to work with.
The Northern Irishman was also a proper Red, brought up in our own Academy, and living the dream of representing the club he supports. More than anything, though, he was a cultured centre-back who was underappreciated and whose composure and ability on the ball was about to become ever more important with the way the style of play in the Premier League was evolving.
Yet this is football. This is the reality of working at the club. You do genuinely feel sad when players you like, for their efforts both on and off the pitch, leave. I guess it's just the same as every other walk of life, when colleagues depart for pastures new, and while you may argue top-level players aren't really the same, Jonny is the sort of person who makes everybody in all departments here feel just that: one of his colleagues.
So Jonny exits and becomes an opponent, and a very good one at that. You wish him all the best and follow his progress. When he comes up against a rival, particularly Liverpool and Manchester City, you hope, and expect, that he excels. However, when he faces the Reds, you shut all that out. All that matters is United getting the three points.
I have to share a story from last season's visit to Barcelona. As we were not travelling back until later the day after the thrilling draw in the Europa League, I decided I'd go for a little jog around the Nou Camp because it was within walking distance of the hotel (this makes me sound a lot fitter than I actually am but I just viewed it as an opportunity to get some fresh air!)
Whilst in a beautiful park where there were even parrots in some of the trees, I bumped into Helen and her friend. At the time, Jonny had been injured and was apparently facing a race against time to be fit for our upcoming match with Leicester City at Old Trafford. Naturally, I asked if he would be available and when she said no, I replied: “Good.”
Helen's reaction was to say Jonny was absolutely gutted as he didn't know when he'd next get a chance to play at Old Trafford. It hit me instantly that I'd been so insensitive. I'd become so wrapped up in the quest for winning every match that I'd completely bypassed the human element. And Jonny was a player I really liked and admired.
Somebody who deserved to get that warm reception always afforded to our favourite sons. Yes, he would make the task for Erik ten Hag's side harder but isn't this really what top-level sport is all about? You have to beat the best and yet I often find myself obsessing over whether the opposition will face the same selection issues that we often have to contend with. It's just the wrong mindset.
I thought about this conversation during the flight home and it obviously sprung to mind again as soon as I heard the news that Jonny was training with us in the summer.
Now, it is worth remembering that the transfer rumour mill had linked the club with arguably Serie A's best centre-back and a World Cup winner playing in the Bundesliga. This was only the tip of the iceberg as a whole raft of defenders were suggested as targets. I thought Croatian Josko Gvardiol had enjoyed an outstanding tournament in Qatar, before facing Lionel Messi, and he joined Manchester City.
There was so much else going on around this time, including the start of pre-season and the speculation, warranting numerous minor updates per day, appeared to be swallowing up everybody's attention.
While initially it was intimated that Evans was working at Carrington to get fit, it soon transpired he had impressed Ten Hag sufficiently to train with the senior squad, no mean feat considering the manager's exacting standards and self-professed lack of sentimentality when it comes to earning minutes in his team, with the same being said about any youngsters hoping to break through, like Jonny had managed, yes, back in 2007.
I saw him play in Edinburgh against Lyon and Helen was there too, cheering on her husband, but, at that point, it was not certain what the future would hold.
As it became clearer and clearer the Academy product had done enough to earn a contract, we announced the deal with relatively little fanfare. This was largely because it was finalised on what was a very busy deadline day for the Reds and supporters, understandably, clamoured for more details on the new faces arriving - Altay Bayindir, Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat - because we knew all about Jonny already.
After coming on as a substitute at Arsenal, he made his first start (of his second stint) in the game at Burnley, one we really had to win to ease some of the pressure building after a disappointing start to the season. I think my initial response on seeing the XI was related to the injury issues affecting us again but something special happened when Evans managed to score in the first half.
'Yes, it's Jonny! He's back!' It really meant something. Unfortunately, the joy was short lived, due to VAR, adding to the frustration at the time, but he would go on to play the classy through ball for Bruno Fernandes to produce a marvellous volleyed winner, and perform superbly as we held out for a valuable 1-0 victory. It was probably his post-match interview that struck the biggest chord, though, as he spoke about it being one of the best nights of his life.
For all of his achievements, with United and Leicester, smashing the 100-cap mark for Northern Ireland, this gritty, unspectacular narrow win at an inhospitable Turf Moor had topped the lot. Reds all over the world were feeling relief, and satisfaction, but this was genuinely how important the Saturday night was to Jonny Evans, a claim he doubled down on in his interview at Carrington.
Most surprising for me was my father actually asked that weekend if I could get Jonny's autograph for him at some point. He was that moved by the television interview that it made him connect so strongly with the centre-back's elation and enthusiasm, the passion for the badge. It was seriously the first time he has ever asked me to get a player's signature.
Another outing at Old Trafford, making up for the one taken away from him last term, came in the red of his beloved United instead. Sam Johnstone denied him a goal on this occasion, and Jonny revealed to me he would have whipped his shirt off, taken the booking, and landed somewhere in the Stretford End if he had found the net.
While we hopefully await that joyous moment at a later date, the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace cheered the defender and, after a couple of defeats, he returned to the line-up when Raphael Varane was injured for the Brentford clash last time out. As you come to expect from him, Jonny produced a polished performance, in his 202nd appearance for his boyhood club. We took the points, in dramatic fashion, and the home fans showed their affection again for the Belfast boy.
And you know what? This connection with the support is important, vital even. It made me believe that I can't help but feel something has been forgotten along the way. This Jonny Evans tale is a remarkable feelgood story. Being shipped out eight years ago probably broke his heart but he went away, showed his quality, professionalism and dedication, and now finds himself playing a part in three United wins in 2023/24.
It is yet another lesson that football can throw up the most unpredictable events. Whatever the news agenda or narratives may be, here is a homegrown player, who admitted it would have been a dream to play even once for the first team, now able to still show his talents at the age of 35 in probably the best league in the world. Moreover, you can see what it means to him. Jonny is buzzing and clearly hugely appreciative of the warmth coming his way from our supporters.
Speaking with him was an absolute joy, reminding me why we all love this magnificent club and what it means to all of us.
He wants to repay everybody who came up to him whilst he was away to say they wish he was still a Red. Yet Jonny Evans has always been a Red. And his return is a heartwarming episode within the modern game, amid the constant noise, that needs to be celebrated.
The opinions in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Manchester United Football Club.