Manchester United defender Jonny Evans is set to play for Northern Ireland despite needing an ankle operation.

The move is sure to test United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as Evans had to sit out the Arsenal game on the weekend and it looks as though he is certainly putting his country first.

The 21-year old was set to undergo surgery on his troublesome ankle but wants to postpone the operation until after the next two World Cup qualifiers - against Poland on Saturday and Slovakia on Wednesday.

The decision has delighted national team boss Nigel Worthington but the news may not be what Ferguson wants to hear.

"Jonny called me to say he needs an operation, but he wants to try and battle through the next two games and see how he copes with it," said the Irish manager.

"It's great for me and the squad that Jonny wants to keep going and make himself available for the games.

"It's also great that he recognises the importance of the games."