Manchester United, 2/1 with bookmaker to win the Carling Cup, are taking the competition seriously this season, according to Jonny Evans.
The defender hopes to play in the quarter-final clash against Championship side Crystal Palace, which United are 11/2 to win 2-0.
Sir Alex Ferguson has used the competition to blood some of his younger players in the past, but has selected more established first-teamers against the likes of Leeds United and Aldershot Town in the last two rounds.
Northern Ireland defender Evans says: “I’m hoping to be involved against Palace and the Carling Cup has been good to me. It was my first domestic trophy after I came back from Sunderland on loan when we beat Spurs at Wembley in a penalty shoot out in 2009.
“Twelve months later, I was in the side that beat Aston Villa in the cup. No matter what people might say about it, this is an important competition for us.”
