Evra told to attack

21 August 2009 08:20
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Patrice Evra has been told to get forward more regularly this season as Manchester United look for alternative attacking options in Cristiano Ronaldo's absence. [LNB] The buccaneering French full-back stretched Burnley on more than one occasion in Wednesday's surprise defeat, winning the penalty that Michael Carrick was unable to convert.[LNB]As a defender whose natural game is to bomb forward at every opportunity in any case, Evra insists extra attacking responsibility will not faze him.[LNB]"I have been getting forward a little more," he said.[LNB]"We always like to play with attacking full-backs but maybe this season we will see more of the left and right-backs in the final third.[LNB]"When you had Ronaldo in front of you, sometimes it was just tempting to give him the ball because you knew he could make something happen.[LNB]"We would overlap at times but usually he could manage on his own.[LNB]"Maybe we will attack using more players - more like a team - this season."[LNB]Early daysThe loss of Ronaldo is too fresh to make an accurate judgement on how United will manage without the Portugal superstar.[LNB]However, they do need to produce a greater threat to opposition defences than they have managed in their opening two games, starting at Wigan on Saturday.[LNB]United boast a 100 per cent record against their North West neighbours and it will be interesting to see what formation Sir Alex Ferguson chooses, after electing to play Anderson in a wider role at Turf Moor.[LNB]Antonio Valencia seems certain to play against his former club, having injected a bit of life into United after being introduced as a substitute at Burnley.[LNB]United assistant boss Mike Phelan admits improvement is required.[LNB]"Their goalkeeper only made three saves in the entire game, which is not enough," said Phelan.[LNB]"We should have done a lot better and it is something we have to correct - and correct quickly." [LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports