Evans told the Advertiser exclusively this week: “As much as I'm in favour of players getting picked for their country, it is completely unacceptable that Michael goes away with Northern Ireland twice and comes back injured each time. The first time last month he broke a little bone in his hand and this time it's his groin.
“We are not at the heights of the Premier League, where this sort of thing doesn't matter. Michael O'Connor is a big player for us and in very good form. Michael O'Neill, the Northern Ireland manager, is a proud man but I need league points and cup wins and this is hard to take.”
Evans added ahead of tomorrows game with Oldham: “I'll assess how fresh everyone is before deciding on my line-up. All the lads have been terrific for me and I have the utmost confidence in them.
"Oldham will be tough. They were outstanding against Preston on Monday night but we'll have approaching 10,000 in the ground, it will be another terrific atmosphere and there's every incentive to go and win and get in the top three."