Inspirational Fletcher gives whole team a lift ...not just me – Evans
JONNY Evans is desperate for Darren Fletcher to stay at West Bromwich Albion – so he can keep hitching a lift into work!
Fletcher is yet to agree to the option of a one-year contract extension triggered in December.
It’s thought the Scot’s representatives are holding out for a longer deal, rather than any unwillingness to stay on Fletcher’s part.
Evans and Fletcher live close to each other in Manchester and commute to the Midlands together.
And Evans has a rather selfish reason why he would like Fletcher to remain with the Baggies.
“He’s my driver!” he joked. “I am going to have to start driving myself if that doesn’t get resolved.
“Fletch has been absolutely fantastic. I look up to him. When he is driving me he is constantly asking me questions and he is such a good person. The manager made him captain when he first came and it was a big decision to make but he has that personality where he has a huge effect on the young lads. “He is great around the dressing room. He has just got something about him that people respond to and he has been a massive influence at this football club. He has a big impact on me because he is so ambitious and, for someone that was out for such a long time with his illness, for him to come back with that drive it’s quite inspirational.” It’s not just the lifts Evans appreciates. The Northern Irishman has also been taken by his team-mate’s vocal talents. “Sometimes he whacks on the playlist but he sings more than I do,” Evans added. “He is good company, so I hope he doesn’t leave for that reason.” There’s a clear bond between the two. Also a confidentiality agreement, with Evans unwilling to let on abut Fletcher’s musical tastes. “I can’t tell you – he would kill me,” he added. Meanwhile, Evans has revealed it was Sir Alex Ferguson who persuaded him to join Albion from Manchester United. Evans, magnificent on his return to Old Trafford last Saturday, cost £6 million when he signed from United in August 2015. It’s proven arguably the best piece of business the Baggies have done since returning to the Premier League in 2010.
And it seems they have Ferguson’s close relationship with Albion boss Tony Pulis to thank for it.
“There were a few whispers and I was playing golf one day at one of the United Foundation events,” said Evans.
“Sir Alex took me to one side, sitting on the golf buggy, and talked it through with me.
“He’s big friends with Tony Pulis and was pushing me in that direction. I thanked him for that at the time and took his advice.”
Some believe the 29-year-old would still get into the United team on current form but the Northern Ireland international is adamant he left at the right time.
“I could see the signs,” he said. “I felt like it was the time for that to happen. There was no problem. I was looking forward to a new challenge because I knew that, once I got playing again, I could really push on.
“I don’t think I would have ever left the club if I’d had that feeling of ‘What if?’.
“You had Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, two young England centrebacks, Marcos Rojo had come in as a new signing. I’m not saying I was playing the worst at the time but they were playing more games than me.”