Good Evans! Lee's loan at Bradford assessed

Midfielder Lee Evans has been getting rave reviews from his season-long loan spell with League One high-flyers Bradford City.

The Bantams are gearing up for a play-off shoot-out as they bid to join Wolves in the Championship next season - and Evans has been a regular in Phil Parkinson's side.

Kenny Jackett recently revealed Evans is in his first-team thoughts for next season at Molineux.

So we caught up with the Bradford City reporter for the Telegraph & Argus, Simon Parker, to get the inside track on 21-year-old Evans' progress.

E&S: How would you sum up Evans' contribution to Bradford's successful season?

Simon Parker: "He's been excellent – and played a key part in how well they've done.

"He's made 38 appearances in total and had a very productive season, particularly since the turn of the year.

"As he said himself in a recent interview a red card he picked up at Port Vale in January was a catalyst for him coming back into the team and finding his best form.

"Since then he's been brilliant.

"His passing is his main strength, he gets Bradford moving, has been good with both feet and has been second in our average player rating out of 10 over the whole season."

What's been his role in the team?

"Bradford play 4-4-2 – or a 4-4-1-1 – and he's always played centrally.

"In the first half of the year he played a bit deeper and had a bad tendency to play a lot of 'worldie' Steven Gerrard-type balls.

"But the more he's played the more disciplined he's become.

"Bradford signed West Ham midfielder Josh Cullen on loan in January and the pair together have been very good.

"Cullen is very disciplined and his arrival has allowed Evans to push further forward, which he seems to enjoy.

"He's had a bit more of a free rein. Before then he'd drift a bit, but now he's got more purpose.

"And he's always looking for the ball – he never hides.

"Him and Cullen get on well off the pitch as well. The phrase used is that they keep Bradford ticking.

Any weaknesses in his game?

"He's only scored three goals and he'd admit himself he should be scoring more.

"Since Cullen's arrival he's been getting more chances, with Cullen happy to drop deep, and he scored the winner in an important 1-0 win at Southend on Saturday.

"It was only his third goal but he's a good striker of the ball.

"His fitness perhaps wasn't the best at the start of the season but that's really improved as the months have gone on.

"He gets stuck in as well and can handle the physical side of the game."

What has Bradford boss Phil Parkinson made of Evans?

"He speaks very highly of him.

"He loves the fact that Evans is always running and has such a good work ethic.

"The only thing he hasn't liked is that Evans perhaps hasn't had enough recognition from the fans for the good work he's done.

"Bradford would love to keep him but that doesn't look likely."

Do you think he can make the step up to the Championship with Wolves?

"I can see him making that step up.

"It seems he had a bit of a falling out with Kenny Jackett at Wolves but that's all in the past now and Evans would agree that he's matured as a person over the year.

"From Wolves' point of view it's been a great move.

"He's played in front of big crowds, had a full season of League One football and will now have at least big pressure play-off games which will be valuable experience."

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