Manchester United defender Jonny Evans admits he's playing with his boyhood idol, Ryan Giggs.

Evans has been the revelation of the season for United, slotting in at central defence for long spells alongside Nemanja Vidic when Rio Ferdinand was sidelined with a back injury.

It has represented a remarkable rise for 21-year-old Evans, who admitted he used to have posters of Ryan Giggs on his bedroom wall as a child.

"I remember there was one Christmas video made, when I was seven, at my grandmother's," said Evans. "I was walking around with a poster of Giggsy - when he had long, curly hair. Now I'm sitting alongside him in the changing-room.

"I'd love to have faced him at his peak, just to see how fast he was but, mentally, he's still lightning. Still more intelligent than other players."

Evans has been struggling with an ankle injury but should be fit to start tomorrow. "It's not nice to think about the prospect of missing the final," he said.

"Rafael Da Silva would have played in it too, but he got injured. The manager told me if I miss it. it's no big thing, but I don't agree with him."