The Manchester United star has accepted that he will eventually need surgery on a problematic ankle injury...
Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has admitted that he is expecting surgery to rid himself of a persistent ankle problem.
The Northern Ireland international has been plagued by the injury since Christmas, and has even had to endure pain killing injections to delay the need for operation.
Despite successfully prolonging the inevitable for so long, Evans has conceded that he will require surgery on the injury at some point in the near future.
"At some point my ankle will need surgery," the 22-year-old is quoted as saying by the Press Association.
"It is a problem that has been bothering me since Christmas.
"We thought it might have gone away over the summer but it is still there.
"Every now and again I catch it and it will be quite sore for a while. Then the pain dies off after a week or so."
Evans has been forced to step in for first-team regulars Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand on numerous occasions over the last year and gained plaudits for his assured performances.
Injuries to both Ferdinand and Vidic at the start of the current campaign have resulted in Evans being called into action once again although with Serbian star Vidic likely to return against Wigan on the weekend, the Belfast-born defender may be afforded a rest.
With the confirmation that England international Ferdinand could be out of action for up to four weeks, Evans has admitted that his absence will be a major loss to the Premier League champions.
"Rio is a good leader, a very good defender and a great player," he added.
"He is a big character who brings a lot to the team when he is playing." Following the Red Devil's surprise defeat to Burnley in midweek, the former Sunderland loanee went on to claim that the players are reeling just as much as the Manchester United fans.
"The players all look at themselves," said Evans.
"They are winners. They hate losing training games so it is no different in Premier League matches.
"They all know how the manager is feeling and how the fans are feeling. But it hurts the players too."
