Manchester United manager Sir Alex Fergsuon has praised defender Jonny Evans and claimed he is now a key player at Old Trafford.

The United boss now sees Evans as first choice defender due to his superb form this season that was emphasised with his display away at Real Madrid in midweek.

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are considered to be the Premier League leaders’ first choice defensive pairing but Ferguson feels the duo’s fitness levels are not reliable enough anymore.

Vidic was left out of the squad to face Madrid on Wednesday night after playing Everton three days earlier and Ferguson has admitted that neither the Serbian nor Ferdinand can play three games in a week anymore.

Evans has been criticised over the years but now the 25 year old Northern Irish international has secured his place in Ferguson’s best XI and is set to start in their FA Cup fifth round clash with Reading this afternoon.

“Jonny has emerged as a real top defender and his form has been fantastic,” Ferguson told The Sun.

“The thing about young players, particularly defenders, when you get consistency from them you know you’re on the right track with them.

“I think Jonny has shown great consistency in the last year.

“If you remember what I said about last year, it wasn’t until Ferdinand and Evans played regularly together that we got a run going.”

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