I’d Rather Face Didier Drogba Than Fernando Torres – Manchester United’s Jonny Evans

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has insisted he would rather play against Didier Drogba than Fernando Torres as he heads to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea this afternoon.

With Rio Ferdinand still struggling with injury, the Northern Ireland international is likely to come face-to-face with the Ivorian this afternoon and is relishing the challenge.

“I have played against Drogba a few times and I have always enjoyed the challenge,” he told the Daily Star.

“He has a bit of everything, so you have to say he’s up there as the hardest to mark.  

“He’s got strength, pace, power, he’s good in the air and he’s got a great strike on him.”

Yet whilst Evans is quick to praise Drogba, he insisted that Liverpool’s Torres is the man he really fears facing on the pitch and he was also quick to jump to the defence of his under-fire United colleague Ferdinand.

“But sometimes, Torres is complete class. He would have done to most defenders in the world what he did to Rio at Anfield recently,” he added.

“I think people have been harsh on Rio. He’s going to be vital for England at the World Cup – Rio and John Terry are England’s best two centre-backs.  

“Rio is a great leader, a really nice person and someone who encourages all the young players at the club.”

The 21-year-old defender also went on to reveal how he is playing through the pain of an ankle injury currently.

“I had a bit of a scare with the ankle the other week and had to pull out of an international match,” he explained.

“Thankfully, the break allowed it to settle down and I’m not feeling it the way I was at the end of last season.  

“I had a lot of pain-killing injections. Luckily, I went to see a surgeon and he said 'before you have surgery, as a last resort I could think about having a steroid  injection'.  

“It’s like a strong anti-inflammatory and it calms the ankle right down.”

Gill Clark, Goal.com UK