Tuesday 24 March 2015 06:03, UK
In his first TV interview since being banned, Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has again denied deliberately spitting at Newcastle's Papiss Cisse.
Evans is with the Northern Ireland squad preparing for a midweek friendly against Scotland and a crunch Euro 2016 qualifier against Finland at Windsor Park on Sunday, but is currently suspended from domestic duty after being handed a six match ban by the FA.
Cisse was also ordered to miss seven games following the incident earlier this month which the defender described as a misunderstanding and Evans - in his first television interview since being banned following the incident at St James’ Park - added that he has always been clear that he did not mean to spit at the Newcastle striker.
"I've said that in my statement. I said that to the FA," he told Sky Sports News HQ. "The incident happened and it wasn't until after I'd seen it on TV that I realised how it looked.
I have sympathy for him (Cisse) because I feel like he was dragged into the situation that wasn't really meant to happen and it was just unfortunate that both of us have got a ban at the end of it.
"At the time in my mind, it was just a misunderstanding from Papiss Cisse. I have sympathy for him because I feel like he was dragged into the situation that wasn't really meant to happen and it was just unfortunate that both of us have got a ban at the end of it.
“I was unaware that I’d spat at the time. I'm sure in the future I'll try to think more carefully about when I do spit but I was totally unaware at the time that I’d done it, so it might be difficult.”
Evans said he had received backing from his manager Louis Van Gaal and hoped to use the international matches to get some time on the pitch.
“The club have been brilliant with me,” he said. “When the charge came in they let me get on with it and the manager was excellent with me. He just said 'do whatever you have to do' and left it at that.
“I've just got to accept it and move on from it now. I've got these international games bang in the middle of the suspension so hopefully if I get game time here it will be good for me on a personal level to get minutes on the pitch.
“They are at a good time because of the ban and Northern Ireland are performing well. I just want to come into the squad and hopefully I can add something to it.”
