But Evatt believes the defensive talisman will be one of several players looking for redemption this season after the disappointment suffered last month.
“Rico has been a massive part of our journey as a football club and I think he deserves respect,” he told us. “
Players have off-days, off-days, and in a private conversation Rico would admit in the second half of the season he did not hit the heights that he did previously.
He is honest enough to know that and I am honest enough to have that conversation with him.
“But there is some context, and sometimes the fans and the wider public don’t get to hear that.
He has been carrying issues and injuries and when that happens you sometimes can’t achieve your highest level.
“Rico has come back in good shape, really positive, and he wants to set the record straight as well.
“We all feel like the job is ours to do. Having conversations with the players today, not just Rico, everyone is fully focussed.
We all know we let everybody down at Wembley and the only way to put things right is to show people and stand up, that is what we are going to do.”
