Defenders First League Start In 3125 Days: "One Of The Best Nights Of My Life" - BBC Sport

Northern Irish Footballer Jonathan Evans Makes Historic Return To Pitch

London, England - September 22, 2023

Northern Irish footballer Jonathan Evans made his first league start in over eight years on Thursday night, helping his team to a 2-0 victory. The 35-year-old defender, who has been capped 99 times by his country, has been out of action since suffering a knee injury in 2019.

"It was one of the best nights of my life," Evans said after the game. "I've been working so hard to get back to this point, and it felt amazing to be out there on the pitch again. I'm so grateful to the manager and my teammates for giving me this opportunity."

Evans' return to the pitch is a major boost for his team, who are currently top of the league. The defender is expected to play a key role in the team's quest for promotion this season.