'A lot needs to happen' for Chris Coleman to consider Ched Evans for Wales international duty

Evans was acquitted of rape at a retrial at Cardiff Crown Court last month

Evans has scored four goals for Chesterfield this season (Getty)

Wales manager Chris Coleman has said “a lot needs to happen” for Ched Evans if he is to ever resurrect his international career.

Evans won 13 caps for Wales before he was convicted for raping a 19-year-old woman in May 2011 – a conviction which was overturned this year.

The former Manchester City and Sheffield United striker served half of his five-year prison sentence before his conviction was quashed and he was acquitted following a retrial last month.

Evans is resuming his club career with League One side Chesterfield and has scored four times in 12 appearances.

However, Coleman has indicated that the 27-year-old will have to get to the level he used to be at – he scored 35 goals in 42 appearances the season before his initial conviction – if he is to return to the international fold.

"From the football side of it, he has missed a lot of football," Coleman said.

"I don't know Ched personally - I've never met the boy. He was playing at a certain level before this situation occurred, and now he is playing at a different level.

Chris Coleman announced his Wales squad for the qualifier against Serbia (Getty)

"He has missed a lot of football, and since he has been away a lot has happened to this team. There are a lot of players in front of him.

"From a football perspective, a lot needs to happen.

"The boys I am looking at compete at a level we need them to compete at, to continue where we have been in the last two or three years.

"If anyone is going to make an impact on that, they need to be at least playing at the highest level and doing the business at the highest level."

Coleman was speaking at the announcement of his Wales squad for the qualifier against Serbia at the Cardiff City Stadium next week, where Aaron Ramsey will make his first appearance for the Dragons since Euro 2016.