Sheffield UnitedSheffield United and Wales striker Ched Evans was jailed for five years today after being convicted of raping a woman who was "too drunk to consent" to sex.

The 23-year-old footballer, who has scored 35 times this season for the League One club, is now considering an appeal against the jury’s verdict at Caernarfon Crown Court where his co-defendant, Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald, was found not guilty of the same charge.

Both men admitted they had sex with the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, but the prosecution said she was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.

In her evidence, the woman said she has no memory of the incident.

Evans’s lawyers said the footballer was “shocked and extremely disappointed”.

“Mr Evans firmly maintains his innocence in this matter and is being advised regarding an appeal of the decision,” they added in a statement.

The Football Association of Wales said it “recognised the seriousness of the situation”.