It feels just right: Evans happier having switched sides in United's defence

By Sportsmail Reporter

Published: 11:23 EDT, 27 April 2012 | Updated: 11:23 EDT, 27 April 2012

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans feels a lot happier now he has been able to switch to his stronger right side.

As a legacy of his long-standing partnership with Nemanja Vidic, Rio 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.

Feeling at home: Jonny Evans says he feels better of the right side of defence

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.

Defensive partner: Rio Ferdinand has played alongside Evans in recent weeks

'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.

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.

Making his mark: Phil Jones has impressed in his first season at Old Trafford

'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.'

The transition was far from easy.

However, Evans had the same determination to persevere that he showed last season. And the outcome was the same.

'It was a big learning curve for me and it took me a while to get used to it,' he said.

'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.'

Ferguson will give Evans every opportunity to recover, knowing the two obvious replacements, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, have not started a Premier League game in central defence since January.

Experienced heads: Evans has learned from the likes of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs

For both, it would represent the biggest match of their entire careers.

Yet the magnitude of the occasion does not bother Ferguson so much.

He has a huge amount of experience to call on and not just in the form of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

'There is enough experience there,' said Ferguson.

'Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, even Wayne Rooney has amassed a lot of football in his short time in the game.

'There is enough experience in the camp to help in this situation.'

And, whilst he may be taking his squad away from their Carrington training base for a couple of days, nothing else will change as the focus starts to train on City.

'The training programme is exactly the same,' he said.

'We just do our work and our preparation.

'There is a fantastic work ethic about the players. Hopefully that transmits itself to the game situation.

'That has always been the case here in the past.'