Barcelona? Euro champs would hold Nou fear for ice cool Jonny.Byline: Darren Fullerton JUST in case, I thought. Just in case. That was what ran through my mind as I did an about-turn in the hotel foyer. I had a deadline to keep and was making a beeline bee·line n. A direct, straight course. intr.v. bee·lined, bee·lin·ing, bee·lines To move swiftly in a direct, straight course. for the revolving doors when I spotted him standing at the reception desk. Was it him? You can never be too sure on first inspection. But it certainly looked like the Google images I'd seen. I stalled, shifted my weight from one foot to the other, checked my watch.. and decided to introduce myself. Just in case. "Excuse me Jonny... it is Jonny, isn't it? I was just wondering if you'd have two minutes for a quick word on the call-up," I ventured. "Yeah, sure," he replied. And so it began. A little known, 18-year-old defender called Jonny Evans Jonathan "Jonny" Evans (born 3 January, 1988, Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a football central defender who currently plays for Manchester United. Evans was scouted while playing for Greenisland FC, the same club which his brother Corry and Craig Cathcart played for before started talking quietly. Intently. In the surroundings of the Northern Ireland Northern Ireland: see Ireland, Northern. Northern Ireland Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland occupying the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland. Area: 5,461 sq mi (14,144 sq km). Population (2001): 1,685,267. team hotel in Templepatrick, he spoke of his delight at being called into Lawrie Sanchez's squad to face Spain at Windsor Park This article refers to the home ground of the Northern Irish Football Club. For other uses of Windsor Park, see Windsor Park (disambiguation). Windsor Park is the home ground of the Northern Irish football club, Linfield FC, in Belfast. two nights later. And then I opted to pose one final question. Silly question, really. But I'd ask it anyway. Just in case. "And what would it mean to you to feature at some stage against Spain?" I said. I almost choked on the syllables leaving my mouth. I was cringing inside. And scanning his reaction for the first flush of embarrassment. Bemusement be·muse tr.v. be·mused, be·mus·ing, be·mus·es 1. To cause to be bewildered; confuse. See Synonyms at daze. 2. To cause to be engrossed in thought. , even. What a berk. Imagine asking a teenager, who had yet to play a senior game for Manchester United, how he'd feel playing Spain in a crucial Euro qualifier. Imagine asking a young lad how he'd feel if he was asked to mark Fernando Torres or David Villa on his international debut. Imagine. But then the strangest thing happened. Evans took a breath... and answered. He replied. And he wasn't the slightest bit perturbed per·turb tr.v. per·turbed, per·turb·ing, per·turbs 1. To disturb greatly; make uneasy or anxious. 2. To throw into great confusion. 3. . Would he be nervous, in need of a new pair of shorts, if he stepped out against the Spaniards? "No, not at all," he replied. "I wouldn't be nervous at all. It's my personality. I never allow myself to get ruffled ruf·fle 1 n. 1. A strip of frilled or closely pleated fabric used for trimming or decoration. 2. A ruff on a bird. 3. a. A ruckus or fray. b. Annoyance; vexation. 4. . That's just me. "I've trained with Rooney and Ronaldo at United, so why would I fear playing Spain? I would see it as a real opportunity." We ran the story the next day with the headline: "No Fear. Evans: I've played with Ronaldo... why would Spain faze me." We were covered for all eventualities. Just in case. Just in case Sanchez, in a cavalier moment of madness, only went and threw him in against Spain. Which he did. At left-back, a position Evans had never played before in his professional life. Yet there he was 48 hours later strolling around Windsor like a seasoned veteran, at one stage outwitting Torres with a cheeky back heel in front of The Kop. It's all too easy to forget the ripples of shock Evans' promotion to the Northern Ireland side caused back in September 2006. He emerged from football's shadows to play a leading role in one of Northern Ireland's greatest ever triumphs. Three years later and he is an established star at Old Trafford, being talked of as Rio Ferdinand's natural successor and the subject of an apparent pounds 12million bid from Barcelona. The journey Evans has made in such a short space of time is considerable. At just 21-years of age, he is a Premier League star and a valued guardian of a club's rich heritage. Steve Bruce was 26 when Sir Alex entrusted him with the keys and locks of the United defence. Bruce's partner in the 1990s, Gary Pallister, was 24 when he made his debut, while current first-choice centre-backs Nemanja Vidic and Ferdinand were 25 and 23 respectively when they first donned a red shirt. Evans was 19 when he made his United debut. And I'm guessing he didn't even blink. I'm also guessing he didn't bat an eyelid eyelid /eye·lid/ (-lid) either of two movable folds (upper and lower) protecting the anterior surface of the eyeball. eye·lid or eye-lid n. when Barca were being linked with their move last week. But when you've played the Spanish national side as an untried youngster, why would the Nou Camp faze you? No fear, you see. It's in Evans' nature. I found that out three years ago in a hotel foyer when he answered that question. He's been answering them ever since. CAPTION(S): SEPT 2006 Evans had 'no fear' of his Northern Ireland call-up NOU WAY Barcelona were reported to have made a pounds 12million approach for Evans last week |
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