Evra: Joe Hart has handled the pressure

Joe Hart and Patrice Evra

Patrice Evra has backed Joe Hart to build on his man of the match display at Chelsea over the run-in to the 2017/18 season.

Hart made outstanding saves to deny Willian, Marcos Alonso and Olivier Giroud at Stamford Bridge and help the Hammers claim a vital point at their cross-London rivals.

The final save from Giroud, tipping his header onto the post with a full-length dive, came in the dying moments of the game and ensured Chicharito’s second half equaliser would give the visitors a share of the spoils.

With Stoke City visiting London Stadium on Monday, Evra – who featured as a sub at Stamford Bridge – is sure the England goalkeeper will continue to excel between the posts.

He said: “When I first came I said to Joe ‘your time is coming, never give up’ and he was really confident.

“You can see in the game he played against Chelsea – he was man of the match, and that was well deserved. Even this week at the training ground he was still the man of the match!

“I’m really happy for him. You need to handle to pressure, you’re going to get criticised, it’s normal in football [and he has handled that pressure].

“He’s proud of playing for England, but what he wants to do now is perform well for West Ham, and hopefully afterwards he will get the chance to go to the World Cup.”