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Evans the example with Fabio set for loan move

Fabio will be given the chance to gain first-team experience © Getty Images

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Brazilian defender Fabio will go out on loan next season and hailed Jonny Evans as possibly the best defender in England.

Fabio, along with twin brother Rafael, moved to Old Trafford in 2008 but has found the first-team harder to break into than his sibling, with inconvenient injuries also hampering the progress he has been able to make.

Ferguson still sees the Brazilian as a part of his long-term plans, but wants him to go on loan for the next campaign in order to acquire crucial experience from playing week-in and week-out.

"Fabio will go on loan next season to give him concentrated first-team experience," Ferguson told United Review. "I have already talked to him and he understands the value of playing regularly at a higher level than we can give him at the moment."

United have had defensive issues for much of the season, with Rio Ferdinand missing the early part of the campaign due to a series of setbacks - before central defensive partner Nemanja Vidic was ruled out for the entirety of the season after rupturing his cruciate ligament at the start of December.

Ferguson, however, hailed the impact of Jonny Evans - himself a player who has benefitted from going out on loan - in their absence, suggesting the Northern Ireland international might now be the best defender in the Premier League.

"I must admit my heart sank a little when I learned just how long Nemanja Vidic was going to be out," the Scot said. "He and Rio Ferdinand had become the cornerstone of our defence but Rio responded brilliantly, despite his back problem, and has now struck up a fine partnership with Jonny Evans.

"Jonny came to us from Belfast when he was 12 or 13, always exceptionally talented but gangly with physical issues growing up. We had him out on loan with Antwerp and Sunderland and now we are seeing the value of nurturing him.

"There is no doubt he has been helped playing alongside the experience of Rio and he is now arguably the best defender in the country."

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