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Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans deserves more respect, says Michael McGovern

Jonny Evans
Image: Michael McGovern has heaped praise on Northern Ireland team-mate and West Brom defender Jonny Evans

Michael McGovern insists Northern Ireland team-mate Jonny Evans does not command the respect he deserves following a transfer window where he was heavily linked with Arsenal.

Both McGovern and Evans are in Austria with Northern Ireland's squad as Michael O'Neill's side prepare for the start of their World Cup qualifiers and a clash in the Czech Republic on Sunday, live on Sky Sports 2.

The Gunners' supposed interest in West Brom defender Evans this summer was widely ridiculed on social media, with Arsene Wenger instead splashing out a much larger fee for Valencia's German international Shkodran Mustafi.

However, McGovern is adamant that a player who was his country's finest player at Euro 2016 can play for a top club again and questioned why the 28-year-old former Manchester United man is not held in higher regard.

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Northern Ireland's players are determined to follow up on their run to the knockout stages of Euro 2016 by qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

"I don't think he gets enough respect," the goalkeeper said.

"At Man United he never got enough respect and he was part of the team that won the league; it was him, (Nemanja) Vidic and (Rio) Ferdinand and Jonny played most of that season.

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 25:  Sam Vokes of Wales and Jonny Evans of Northern Ireland compete for the ball during the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between W
Image: Evans played a leading role in Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 campaign

"He's a class defender. I don't know if it's because he's British, if he was foreign maybe he'd got more credit. I think he showed at the Euros what a top-class defender he is.

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"It's no surprise that there was a top Premier League team looking at him because I feel he's more than capable of playing for a top-four team. He's already proven that and I was surprised that he went to West Brom, in a way, because they got a bargain there. He could definitely still be playing for a top team."

Evans was a three-time Premier League winner with United but McGovern thinks he became a scapegoat at Old Trafford when things started to turn south there prior to his move to the midlands in 2015.

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"I think sometimes British players get a hard time of it," McGovern added.

"There was a time when with Man United a few of the defenders weren't playing well and Jonny seemed to be talked about in the same bracket as them even though he wasn't having half as bad a time as them. I think Jonny's quality.

"I thought he was our best player at the Euros. He's got the lot. He's great on the ball, is a ball-playing defender, is really strong, great in the air and talks really well."

McGovern impressed in France as Northern Ireland reached the last-16
Image: McGovern impressed in France as Northern Ireland reached the last-16 of Euro 2016

The Czech Republic game is their first fixture since the Euros, where McGovern moved into the spotlight following an inspired performance against Germany, yet the 32-year-old is not focused on reminiscing about that day.

"The Euros is over and done with, in the past," he said.

"We've had a taste of success and you want more. It's a brilliant opportunity to build on it. We've never gone into a World Cup qualifying campaign with such confidence. The group's hard but it's achievable to get second place, at least."

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