Sheffield United 3 Oxford United 0: Blades striker Evans lays down marker for return to Wales fold

Evans has endured a nightmare time since his last appearance for Wales against England in a Euro 2012 qualifier eight months ago

The former Manchester City striker is awaiting trial for rape and is playing League One football after being relegated with the Blades.

But he has not been completely forgotten by Speed and was on the standby list ahead of this weekend’s 4-1 friendly victory over Norway.

Blades manager Danny Wilson says Evans’s weekend display against Oxford United will not go unnoticed by the Football Association of Wales.

However, he also concedes that Evans needs to play at a higher level to improve his chances of regular international football.

“Performances like that are of a high level,” said Wilson. “I am sure people coming and watching him from the Welsh FA will be quite impressed with him.”

Asked whether Evans was disappointed by his current omission from the Welsh squad, Wilson said: “I think it’s something he expects more than anything if he’s not playing and not playing at the highest level. Maybe he doesn’t get as much of a chance as he would as a Championship player.

“But putting in performances like that, of course, he has got to be close.”

Evans, ironically, was recently dropped for five games by Wilson after the capture of Blackpool striker Billy Clarke on loan.

His future at Bramall Lane remains the subject of intense speculation and the financial pressures facing the club only increase the possibility of his departure in the New Year transfer window.

Evans banged in goals in the 15th and the 20th minutes against Oxford and would have claimed a hat-trick but for saves by goalkeeper Ryan Clarke.

There was an element of good fortune about his first goal. Strike partner Richard Cresswell failed to connect with an attempted overhead kick but his high boot unsettled Oxford defender Steve Kinniburgh.

The ball bounced nicely into the path of Evans, who drilled home with a low shot from 15 yards.

Lee Williamson might have doubled the lead soon after but his shot was blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Clarke.

Evans scored his second from a free-kick after Andrew Whing fouled Cresswell but goalkeeper Clarke produced a stunning save soon after.

Oxford were simply not at the races in the first half and the gulf between the two clubs looked far greater than merely one division.

Clarke produced another save at the feet of Stephen Quinn as the visitors desperately tried to get to grips with the Blades.

The absence of former Leeds and Chelsea centre-back Michael Duberry through injury was one possible excuse for Oxford’s fragility at the back.

The Blades were hardly playing sensational football but pushed their opponents back impressively and took advantage of gaping holes in their defence.

Oxford manager Chris Wilder, a lifelong Blades supporter, looked far from happy at the half-time whistle and his immediate reaction was the substitution of midfield player Paul McLaren and striker Jonathan Franks.

He also abandoned the 4-1-4-1 formation that had been so unsuccessful in the first half and switched to an attacking 3-5-2.

It triggered a brief improvement and Blades goalkeeper Steve Simonsen had to make his first notable save from substitute James Constable.

Wilson removed Quinn from the action – the winger taking a knock and having one of his quieter afternoons.

Substitute Ryan Flynn had not scored for the Blades since arriving from Falkirk in the summer but found the net with 18 minutes to play.

“I thought the performance was very strong, very committed, and there was a lot of discipline in there,” said Wilson.

“We didn’t let them settle or get any rhythm. The system they played helped us a little in our possession and we got two goals which settles any team down.

“I was delighted with the shape, we didn’t chase the game or get caught out with silly counter-attacks. That’s what really pleased me today. I am sure one or two people saw this as a potential ‘banana skin’ but, thankfully, we got through.”

Despite reducing prices to just £10 and £3, the game attracted a crowd of just 7,991 – only 2,000 more than Tuesday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie against Bradford City.

The Bramall Lane Kop was closed for the second game in a row and atmosphere was in short supply. So much for the ‘magic’ of the FA Cup.

To be fair, it is easy to understand why interest in the game was hard to muster.

Times are hard financially for many football supporters and a first round tie against League Two Oxford hardly captures the imagination at a South Yorkshire club where the top priority this season is winning promotion.

Sheffield United: Simonsen; Lowton, Maguire, Collins, Williams; Williamson (McAllister 82), Montgomery, Doyle, Quinn (Flynn 57); Evans, Cresswell. Unused substitutes: Harriott, Porter, Long, McDonald, Parrino.

Oxford United: Clarke; Batt, Whing, Wright, Kinniburgh; McLaren (Worley 45) ; Heslop, Leven (Payne 60); Franks (Constable 45), Hall; Smalley. Unused substitutes: Tonkin, James, Marsh, Crocombe.

Referee: C Boyeson (Hull).