West Ham United defender Patrice Evra has backed Joe Hart to be England's number one goalkeeper at the 2018 World Cup.

Hart has had a difficult 2017-18 campaign on loan at West Ham, but the 30-year-old had his best game for the Hammers in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Chelsea.

The Manchester City stopper has a battle on his hands to be England's first-choice stopper for this summer's competition, but Evra has backed his teammate to be awarded the gloves.

"I remember when I came and Joe wasn't playing and Adrian was playing and I say 'Joe, come on, you need to play - the World Cup is coming soon'," Hart told reporters.

"He was really confident. I said 'you're time is coming, never give up' and you can see the game he played against Chelsea. He was man of the match, well deserved, and even today at training he was still man of the match. I'm really happy for him. Big players need to handle the pressure, you're going to get criticised."

Everton's Jordan Pickford and Stoke City's Jack Butland are believed to be Hart's two main rivals for England.