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West Ham United coaching assistant Stuart Pearce has told England goalkeeper Joe Hart he has a fight on his hands to win back his starting spot.

The experienced goalkeeper, who joined West Ham on a season-long loan last summer lost his place to Adrian against Chelsea last weekend having been forced to sit out the trip to parent club Manchester City the week before.

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And Pearce, who returned to West Ham last month as part of David Moyes new regime has instructed Hart - who is desperate to regain his place in the team, with the World Cup Finals just six months away - to keep giving 100 per cent effort in training if he wishes to regain his first team spot.

"“We want two goalkeepers at this football club, at least, vying for the #1 jersey," Pearce told whufc.com. "Joe knows he has to roll his sleeves up and fight to get his place back at club level, and also to keep his England place for the summer.

"Adrian played extremely well at Man City - Joe wasn’t dropped for that game - but every football club knows that competition for places is healthy.

"We’re in a situation here where everyone is competing for the jersey. I know Joe very well from my time at [Manchester] City and England and he’s the type of character who will roll his sleeves up and fight to get his place back."

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However Pearce defended the England stopper against recent criticism, insisting that West Ham's leaky defence was just as culpable for the team having the Premier League's worst defensive record.

"He’s been left very, very open," added Pearce. "I covered a few games before I went in at West Ham and he’s been left very vulnerable, there’s no doubt about that. As for the criticism he got, he thought everyone in the team has to take responsibility when the team concedes goals."

Meanwhile David Moyes, speaking in his pre-match press conference this afternoon insisted that there would be an opportunity for Hart to shine again - but insisted that his only priority was to pick the best team for West Ham.

"I'm sure Joe will give Adrian all the respect from his position," he said. "He's good in the dressing room, his experience is important and he'll play a lot of games for West Ham between now and the end of the season.

"I hope Adrian keeps playing well, but there will be games for Joe. I'm really pleased I have two good goalkeepers. Joe is here and if I'm correct I don't think his loan contract allows him to go back.

"My job is to pick the West Ham team and not the England team."


Tale of the tape: 2017/18 so far

Joe Hart
Played: 14 (Premier League 14, Carabao Cup 0)
Goals Conceded: 30
Average goals conceded per game: 2.14

Adrian San Miguel Del Castillo
Played: 5 (Premier League 2, Carabao Cup 3)
Goals Conceded: 4
Average goals conceded per game: 0.80

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