Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 9y

Jonny Evans, Ander Herrera step up Manchester United comebacks

Ander Herrera scored and Jonny Evans started as Manchester United's reserves beat Blackburn 5-0 on Tuesday.

Evans was making his comeback after two months on the sidelines with an ankle injury and the centre-back came through the game unscathed.

Midfielder Herrera has been an unused substitute in United's last four matches and has only played 45 minutes since suffering a cracked rib against West Ham in September.

The Spaniard played in a corset against West Bromwich Albion in October but was taken off at half-time and lost his place to Marouane Fellaini.

The 28.8 million-pound signing completed the full game while Evans, who has been limited to four first-team games this season, was taken off in the 64th minute.

"It's nice to get 60-odd minutes under my belt," Evans told MUTV. "It's been a long time coming. I didn't expect to be out this long so I'm pleased to get some minutes. I thought the lads played well and it was an enjoyable game to be part of.

"I think the manager will have to assess that [a first-team recall] and also the fitness coaches. I've been training for a week or two now but it's taking me time to get my fitness up as I've been out for so long."

His return represents a boost to United at a time when they are without two injured centre-backs, Marcos Rojo (shoulder) and Phil Jones (shin splints).

They are also waiting to discover the extent of left-back Luke Shaw's ankle injury and although right-back Rafael da Silva, who has had a groin problem, is back in training, he did not feature against Blackburn.

After young striker Will Keane opened the scoring, Herrera added the second after a cross from Adnan Januzaj. Andreas Pereira and Joe Rothwell, with a brace, were the other scorers for Warren Joyce's side in the Lancashire Senior Cup quarter-final at Leigh.

Belgium international Januzaj, who was dropped by Louis van Gaal for Saturday's win at Arsenal, also played the full 90 minutes.

United have also allowed left-back Reece James to join Championship club Rotherham on loan until January.

The 21-year-old made his first-team debut for United in the 4-0 Capital One Cup defeat to MK Dons. And as Rojo and Daley Blind, two other options at left-back, are both sidelined, it might be taken as a sign United do not expect Shaw to be out for long.

Rotherham manager Steve Evans told the club's official website: "Young Reece is a player who I have watched develop at Manchester United over the last two or three years.

"His ability was not only witnessed by Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes but even more so by current United manager Louis Van Gaal, who gave Reece an opportunity to play in the first team back in pre-season and indeed the youngster has been close to being involved at Old Trafford in recent weeks."

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