Evans happy to be right

Man Utd defender Jonny Evans has enjoyed featuring on his preferred right side this term after linking up with Rio Ferdinand at the back.

Red Devils stopper pleased to switch to his stronger side

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has enjoyed featuring on his preferred right side this season after linking up with Rio Ferdinand at the back. As a legacy of his long-standing partnership with Nemanja Vidic, Ferdinand always used to occupy the right-sided berth in central defence. But since Vidic has been out with a ruptured cruciate ligament, Ferdinand has shifted to the left.

Comfortable

As a consequence Evans has felt far more comfortable, contributing to the much-improved performances that turned the Northern Ireland defender into a first-choice centre-half this term. "Whenever I played, it was always on the left side of defence," said Evans. "Growing up I was probably always a bit more capable of using my left foot than whoever was alongside me in the centre, so I ended up on the left side. "It's harder bringing the ball out of defence on your left side, though. "When you're passing the ball five yards you're fine using your weaker foot but if you're driving into space and dribbling forward, you ideally want the ball on your good side. "This season I've been able to move to the right-hand side and that's helped me. I've definitely felt more comfortable bringing the ball out and starting attacks." Reports that Evans has been unable to train so far this week and is a doubt for Monday's crucial Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium will come as a blow. Although he was not at his best against Everton last weekend, the 24-year-old had done enough in previous games to suggest he would be the man Sir Alex Ferguson would want alongside Ferdinand on Monday night as United attempt to protect their status as Premier League leaders with just three matches of the season remaining.

Change

Yet, a decade ago, Evans was dreaming of being a midfield schemer. After all, that was the position he tended to operate in during his junior days in Belfast. It changed when United's coaches got hold of him, correctly believing Evans was a more natural defender. "When I was playing in Northern Ireland it was as a midfielder," he said. "But ever since I came to United I've played at the back. "It was a big learning curve for me and it took me a while to get used to it. "My first season at centre-back in the youth team wasn't a great experience, pretty similar to last season in a way. I just had to find a way to get over that and carry on."