Manchester United defender Jonny Evans believes that the club’s star-studded attack has more than made up for the team’s defensive weaknesses so far this season.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side currently have a seven-point lead on rivals Manchester City at the top of the table, but have kept just four clean sheets this season and conceded 28 goals in 20 games, more than 11 other clubs in the top flight.

However, despite this less-than-impressive record at the back which has seen them concede the first goal in 11 times in the league, Evans feels that United’s strength in depth up front has made them a dangerous side to come up against.

“The attacking play we produce is fantastic. We work on it a lot in training,” Evans told United Review.

“We’ve got so many players that can change games and you only have to look at our bench: most of the players would start in other sides.

“That gives us great confidence. It’s maybe to the detriment of our clean sheet record, it’s just that we play such attacking football and everyone wants to get involved.

“We have maybe taken our eye off the ball with doing the basics defending as a team and having a good team shape.

“When it comes to the big games we definitely have that nailed on. Saying that, we’ve won a lot of games 3-2, which must be a record. It’s entertaining stuff and I’m sure the fans enjoy it.”

Evans argues that while their forwards are getting a lot of the credit, that competition for places is just as fierce at the back, with injuries robbing Sir Alex Ferguson of having a fully fit defence to call upon for most of this season so far.

He added: “Even at the start of the season there were occasions when myself and Rio were playing most of the games when we had a lot of injuries.

“It’s good to have the other lads back. It’s not only competition for places, it’s more that there are so many games.

“It’s almost impossible to play every single game. You’d end up forcing injuries upon yourself by placing those demands on your body. It would take the sharpness out of your game too.

“The manager is good at taking care of that, but with some of the defenders being injured he hasn’t been able to do it that much.

“We definitely see it as a benefit having everyone back fit. It strengthens the squad and provides competition so that everyone is playing at the optimum level.”