The Ministry of Justice will not allow convicted rapist Ched Evans to resume his career overseas.

The former Sheffield United striker, 26, is looking to return to football after leaving prison in October, having served half of a five-year rape sentence.

Maltese club Hibernians revealed on Friday that they wanted to sign the Wales international striker on a deal until the end of the season, although Evans's camp have claimed that he knows nothing about their interest.

However, an MoJ spokesman has said strict conditions imposed on sex offenders would effectively rule out Evans working abroad.

The spokesperson said: "We are determined to have one of the toughest regimes in the world for managing sex offenders, to stop them reoffending and to protect victims.

"Probation officers must give permission for sex offenders on licence to take up new jobs and this includes ensuring they hold regular face to face meetings - this effectively rules out working abroad.

"The offenders will also be subject to strict conditions such as exclusion zones, non-contact orders and having to attend sex offender treatment programmes."

Evans was found guilty of raping a 19-year-old girl in a hotel in May 2011.