The Boyce done good in the eyes of Michael
The West Brom defender, 29, is with his international team-mates at a training camp in Turkey as Michael O’Neill’s side prepare for a vital World Cup qualifier in Baku on Saturday.
An away win would cement their position in second place in Group C which – should they stay there – would earn them a play-off spot.
The last time Evans played in Azerbaijan in 2013 he was sent off as Northern Ireland were embarrassed, losing 2-0.
But since then he has gone from strength to strength with his country and was one of the star performers at Euro 2016.
Evans said: “The last trip to Azerbaijan was probably a turning point for me.
“I had a head loss in the game, we were losing, it wasn’t going well and I lashed out at someone,” he recalled. “I think at that time it was the season that David Moyes took charge at Manchester United.
“There were big changes at club level and I felt my football wasn’t going so well, so yeah you could probably say there was a lot of frustration building up in different areas of my football.
“There had been spells in the past where my temper would have got the better of me.
“I spoke to our manager Michael O’Neill after and I got a lot of things off my chest.
“I didn’t want to be in the position again where I had felt I let him down and my family down so I said no more of that. I think as an all-round player I am still getting better but when I play internationals I feel as a senior player I have to perform, which is good as that can bring the best out of you.
“I like the responsibility of being on the pitch and ordering people around.
“The lads go nuts at me because they say I am one of the angriest men ever on the pitch. I don’t think I am but I like that responsibility of trying to lead the team.
“Michael O’Neill has been brilliant as Northern Ireland manager. We go into games now believing that we can win all the time.
“In the past people may have dismissed us but the Euros gave us a good reputation and we want to maintain it.
“The Azerbaijan match will be difficult but we will go there feeling we can get a good result.”
The former United star, meanwhile, believes Jose Mourinho’s men must challenge for the Premier League crown next season to meet the demands of the fans. Evans was a key figure for Sir Alex Ferguson when the Red Devils last claimed the championship in 2013 – one of three title-winning medals he has in his collection from a successful spell at Old Trafford.
Many United fans and pundits argue that the Belfast- born centre- half should never have been allowed to leave the club two years ago and while he insists he ignores such talk, Evans admits that he does keep an eye on his old team.
Impressed that Mourinho’s men won the Europa League and League Cup, he says they will need better than a sixth-place finish in the Premier League next term.
Evans said: “I am happy for them, having won two trophies and qualified for the Champions League during this season.
“But I am sure next season they will be expected to improve more than they have and they will be expected to challenge for the league title.” MICHAEL O’NEILL is full of praise for the attitude of the man he left out of Euro 2016.
Last June Northern Ireland striker Liam Boyce was the odd man out, left at home in favour of Wigan’s Will Grigg for the Greens’ first major tournament in 30 years.
But the Ross County forward bounced back by finishing as the Scottish Premiership’s top scorer.
He then opened his international account in Friday’s 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand in Belfast.
“I’m delighted for Liam, I thought he played excellent, his link-up play was really good and it was a great goal,” said Northern Ireland boss O’Neill.
“This season he has been consistent not just in his scoring but his all-round play.
“You have got to remember that Liam has had only three seasons as a full-time professional.
“Three years ago he was a Cliftonville player. His development has been great and a lot of that is down to himself.
“Technically his level is extremely high.
“Liam has the ability to score at international level, there is no doubt about that, because of the types of goals he scores.”
Boyce himself feels he could go on an international scoring spree now he is off the mark for his country.
“When you are a striker and you have not scored in a couple of games you start to think about it but thankfully it has come quick,” he said.
“I have had a few sub appearances and this is just my second start – and when I score I usually score for a couple of games so hopefully that continues.
“I am confident now I have scored my first goal and I want to score lots more.
“Michael has been talking to me about my season.
“He called me when I won the Player of the Month award in April and was top scorer.
“He said, ‘Keep going, keep doing what you’re doing and don’t try something you wouldn’t normally do’. Hopefully it will work.”
Boyce only played 45 minutes at Windsor Park due to tightness in his hip-flexor region but did so alongside Charlton’s Josh Magennis in what appeared to be that partnership’s audition for Azerbaijan on Saturday.