Gary Neville's MNF absence explained as Sky Sports pundit changes career focus

Gary Neville has been gradually stepping away from his Monday Night Football duties on Sky Sports to pursue new opportunities in the US, including Premier League coverage with NBC Sports.

The former Manchester United captain has been a mainstay on MNF since replacing Andy Gray as match analyst in the 2011/12 season. By 2014, he was co-hosting with Ed Chamberlin and then Jamie Carragher came on board in 2015.

Despite their differing views, United legend Neville and Liverpool hero Carragher have become renowned for their dynamic partnership on screen. However, Neville's appearances on MNF have become less frequent, with his last stint being in mid-August, leaving Carragher to lead the show solo.

In a conversation with Rebecca Lowe on the Overlap US YouTube channel, Neville said: "So tomorrow, I'm expected to do set-pieces, whereas with Sky, on Monday Night Football, there are some set pieces which I prepare for - but now I don't do Monday Night Football anymore. I don't do set-pieces any more."

Neville started to reduce his MNF role last year, giving Carragher more of the spotlight, a shift that has been more noticeable this season. While Neville may still appear occasionally, the programme is looking to introduce special guests rather than depend solely on the established Neville-Carragher team, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Neville and Sky reportedly agree on this new direction.

Neville is set to take on a co-commentator role from time to time, but it's unlikely he'll be sharing the studio with Carragher and other pundits. However, Neville continues to be a pivotal figure among Sky's football pundits, making regular appearances on Friday Night Football, Saturday Night Football and Super Sunday broadcasts - as well as contributing to other Sky Sports Football projects.

In a collaboration between Sky Sports and NBC, Neville is scheduled to feature in NBC Sports' Premier League coverage every Sunday of the 2024/25 season. It's understood that his primary involvement will be through his live appearances for Sky Sports.

Sky Sports is also finalising plans for Neville to operate from NBC's live New York studio for up to four weekends this season, including two appearances before Christmas. English fans won't miss out on his expert analysis as the chosen dates are not expected to clash with any major Premier League fixtures.

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