Evans spent eight months in charge of Leeds United last season.
Former Leeds United manager Steve Evans
Former Leeds United manager Steve Evans believes a player he brought to the club is the stand-out omission from this season’s Championship team of the year.
Evans left Leeds after eight months in charge in June 2016 and has since taken the reins at League Two outfit Mansfield Town.
In the meantime, the Scot’s predecessor, Garry Monk, has transformed the Whites from a mid-table side to Premier League promotion candidates, a feat recognised by the inclusion of two of his players in the second-tier best 11.
But as far as Evans is concerned, there should be a Leeds player other than Pontus Jansson and Chris Wood inducted.
“There are a number of exceptional players – the likes of Tom Ince [Derby], Lee Tomlin [Bristol City], Ronaldo Vieira [Leeds] and Sone Aluko [Fulham] – who have not made the selected team, but for me there is a stand-out absentee,” he told this week’s Football League Paper [02/04, p13].
“Liam Bridcutt is a Premier League player playing in the Championship. He gets around the pitch, can make great passes, gives his team a defensive shield, makes great tackles, has enthusiasm in bundles and is inspirational in a great club having a wonderful season.
“It was my pleasure to sign him, initially on loan, at Elland Road last season and he was fantastic. In my opinion, he should have been chosen.”
Leeds United’s Liam Bridcutt in action
Having impressed at Leeds last season, Bridcutt was signed up permanently by Monk last summer and has played 22 times in this season’s Championship – but missed three months of action from mid-September.
For Evans, though, there is one player in contention to be crowned the Championship’s best individually – 24-goal top scorer Wood.
Has Bridcutt’s absence cost him a place in the Championship’s team of the year?
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