Lee Evans | “I was delighted to be back out there”

Midfielder reflects on a frustrating period in his career but pleasing return to action in 2-0 win at Plymouth Argyle.

• Lee Evans | “I was delighted to be back out there”
• Wales international says it’s been a “tough and disappointing” season, though he is determined to help the team in the run-in
• Evans: “It’s been really tough and all I wanted to do is play football for this football club ever since I signed here. At the Sunderland game I knew after ten minutes my knee was gone but because I had been out for six or seven weeks before then I thought I have to get through this. It’s nice to be part of it and to get a few wins, to be back means the world to me.”

Latics midfielder Lee Evans was delighted to make a return to action after just over three months on the sidelines as Leam Richardson’s side defeated Plymouth Argyle 2-0 on Tuesday night.

Reflecting post-match with Latics TV, Evans said he has been as frustrated as anyone at not being able to feature more, though he is determined to now play his part.

“I was delighted to be back out there,” Evans said. “As everyone knows it’s been a tough season for me; I’ve been as disappointed as anyone not to be able to help the team. Seeing the team struggling and not being able to help is tough so I was just delighted to be back out there and to get the win is the icing on the cake.

“It’s been really tough and all I wanted to do is play football for this football club ever since I signed here. At the Sunderland game I knew after ten minutes my knee was gone but because I had been out for six or seven weeks before then I thought I have to get through this. It’s nice to be part of it and to get a few wins, to be back means the world to me.”

Latics started excellently at Home Park with Viv Solomon-Otabor converting Gavin Massey’s cross before Curtis Tilt made it 2-0.

Evans says Latics were out of the blocks quickly in Devon, with method to their play.

“Our game plan was to start well and maybe they thought we would start slow because of the travelling and how far away we are,” he said. “But you could see after the first couple of minutes Langy [Callum Lang] was a real threat and had the beating of all three centre halves. That’s where the goal came from down the channels, Langy to Gavin [Massey] and then a great finish from Viv so a perfect start.

“Gav has been brilliant since he’s come back. It’s been tough for both me and him and the fingers have been pointed at us because we haven’t been fit and people may have thought we didn’t want to be out there. But trust me if you see the work we have been doing at the training ground we’re desperate to get back in. Gav is a prime example of this, he’s getting better and better and another great performance from him tonight.

“Touch wood we don’t pick up anymore injuries because this season has been full of them. The squad was looking good today with a strong bench and lots of players champing at the bit to be playing.

“For me it will be good to get out on the training ground now as I haven’t really had much time out there to be honest and it’s been straight into the game which was tough; I started the game well but faded towards the end and my legs were a bit gone during the second half. But we will put our feet up for a couple of days and hopefully everyone will be at it again on Tuesday.”