JONNY REP NOT THE FULL STORY

MODEST West Brom star Jonny Evans admits he gets irked when pundits praise him for Northern Ireland’s stunning defensive record.

Michael O’neill’s men have kept seven clean sheets in eight World Cup fixtures and conceded just 10 goals in their last 18 qualifiers dating back to the start of the Euro campaign.

It’s some statistic, but while plaudits have been showered on the defence, Evans insists every player on the pitch merits credit.

He said: “When you keep clean sheets, people say ‘oh the back four or back five were brilliant’ but it frustrates me when people say that.

“It’s a real team unit nowadays and Michael always ensures we defend as a team. Teams defend from the front, pressing high up the pitch and so on.”

Evans believes O’neill has nurtured a successful tactical system after his first campaign at the helm – the 2014 World Cup qualifiers – saw Northern Ireland concede 17 goals in 10 games.

Evans said: “Counter attacking has become such a huge part of the game now and maybe in previous campaigns we had left ourselves a little bit open and exposed.

“He has managed to create a structure where when we do go forward we don’t get exploited on the counter.”

Evans feels Northern Ireland have struck lucky that Mesut Ozil is missing for Germany at Windsor Park tonight, alongside Timo Werner, Manuel Neuer and Sami Khedira.

Evans said: “I’ve played against him in the Premier League and sometimes he doesn’t always get the credit he deserves, but he’s an absolutely amazing player.

“He very rarely loses the ball and always plays the right pass at the right time. I’m a big fan.”