Respect the shirt, says defender

PATRICE Evra believes the ‘Manchester United spirit’ is required to lift the Red Devils back up the Premier League.

United may have secured a place in the Champions League knock-out stages and booked a Capital One Cup semi–final with Sunderland over the past fortnight, but their league position remains disappointing.

Now Evra wants his team–mates to summon up the fight lacking in awful back–to–back home defeats by Everton and Newcastle earlier this month.

“I want to look at the present; West Ham at home (tomorrow). Last year we won that kind of game. This season we have more trouble at Old Trafford.

“That is why we have to show our character and personality and play with the Manchester United spirit. We have to respect the shirt.”

Evra insists he saw positive signs in Wednesday’s win at Stoke, United’s third clean sheet on the trot.

United manager David Moyes is wrestling with a lengthy injury list for tomorrow’s home clash against a team who booked their place in the last four of the Capital One Cup with victory at Tottenham.

Robin van Persie and Michael Carrick remain sidelined, while skipper Nemanja Vidic has now missed three successive games and featured only three times since November 10. Wayne Rooney has a groin strain and Moyes is resting him.