GOOD EVANS IMPRESSES HEALY

Evans - praised by Healy.

David Healy has tipped Jonny Evans to become one of Northern Ireland's all-time greats following his outstanding display in the goalless draw with Scotland.

With George McCartney injured, Evans stepped into his more natural central defensive role at Hampden after beginning his international career as a full-back.

The outcome was Nigel Worthington's first clean sheet as Northern Ireland manager despite debutant Ryan McGivern's 57th-minute red card.

Evans was dominant in the air and on the ground, outpacing Kenny Miller to deny Scotland a rare first-half chance and being the only Northern Ireland player who looked to have the measure of the dangerous James McFadden.

Healy believes the 20-year-old Manchester United defender can emulate his hero status among the Northern Ireland support.

"A clean sheet is always a bonus, Nigel was saying he hadn't had one since he took over," Healy said.

"In Maik Taylor we have a goalkeeper on top of his form, and Jonny Evans - the press is right about Jonny. Sometimes they hype a young player up, which is sometimes wrong.

"But Jonny Evans is going to be as good as anything that Northern Ireland have produced in 80 to 100 years.

"He is only 20 but it seems he has been around for years. Jonny can play left-back, right-back or centre-back, you could probably put him in midfield or as a target man up front, I think he is that good.

"Jonny Evans has been hyped up for years, saying he is going to be this and that - but he is going to be the real deal."

The night could have gone even better for the visitors had Healy converted a penalty moments after teenager McGivern was ordered off.

But Scotland substitute Allan McGregor threw himself to his right to save Healy's well-struck low effort, leaving the Fulham striker cursing himself for a late change of mind.

The 29-year-old said: "I watched quite a few Rangers games last year and Allan McGregor made numerous saves to keep them in Old Firm games and the UEFA Cup. I knew he was a good goalkeeper.

"We trained at Hampden Park on Tuesday night and I went down the bottom end on my own and hit nine or 10 penalties, didn't miss the target.

"Eight of the penalties I put the other side. For whatever reason, on the big occasion, I changed my mind.

"It was an outstanding save. I don't know when I changed my mind, but it was one of those you think is in when you hit it."

The miss failed to curb Healy's optimism for the World Cup campaign, which begins in Slovakia next month.

"The pressure is on because we beat Spain and England at home, but we have to take that to another level," said Healy, who has been strongly linked with a move to Sunderland.

"We have to go to eastern European sides, the Czechs, the Poles, the Slovaks and Slovenians, and dig in like we did at Hampden.

"I'm sure if we go to three or four of these away games and get draws, we are more than confident we can beat them at home."