Gary Lineker: Newport County's Will Evans backs TV presenter over 'farmers' league' comment
- Published
Newport County sit just four points adrift of the League Two play-off places following a 2-1 win over Swindon Town
Will Evans backed Gary Lineker over the TV presenter's quip that the Newport County striker previously played in a "farmers' league".
Following Newport's televised FA Cup clash with Manchester United, Lineker said of ex-Bala Town and Cardiff Met forward Evans: "He's gone from farmers' league to the big time in the FA Cup."
It angered some Cymru Premier fans who found the comment disrespectful.
But Evans responded: "If I'm honest, I think it was a passing comment."
He added: "The fact that I was living on a farm and I've played in that league, I can see how it was misinterpreted.
"I think it was just one of those, it rolled off the tongue, that I was a farmer and that I've played in that league.
"I'm backing Gary. I don't think he meant anything by it."
Responding to a Welsh fan on X, previously known as Twitter, after his comment on Evans, Lineker said: "It was a reference to (Evans) being a farmer."
After being released by Shrewsbury Town as a teenager, Evans had spells with Cardiff Met and Bala Town before joining Newport in 2022.
He notched his 20th goal of the 2023-24 season in a 2-1 win over Swindon Town just six days after scoring against Manchester United in the FA Cup at Rodney Parade.
His remarkable exploits resulted in heaps of transfer interest during the January window, with chairman Huw Jenkins confirming the Exiles rebuffed multiple offers for the 26-year-old.
And following his strike against Swindon, Evans described his "love" for Newport.
"I've heard rumours, I've seen things online and people send me stuff, but I'm a Newport County player," he said.
"Every time I step on the pitch, I love representing the club.
"For me it's all background noise, it's nothing to do with me. If that's happening in the background then so be it.
"I knew I was staying here and I just want to keep proving to the fans that I can still do it for Newport.
"I love it here."
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