Paul Pogba backed by France team-mate

Hugo Lloris says the criticism aimed at Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is unfair.

The Spurs keeper is a France team-mate of Pogba’s and the duo played a key role in Les Bleus’ World Cup success this summer.

The former Juventus star has since struggled to hit top form at Old Trafford and has been criticised by a number of pundits and former United players, while he has also been involved in a high-profile fall-out with club manager Jose Mourinho.

Lloris has now defended Pogba and he says the 25-year-old remains a key man for United.

“I am sorry but I don’t watch all Manchester United games,” said the Tottenham shot-stopper. “But he has a status in the UK, maybe because of his huge transfer fee.

“Sometimes people judge him not very fairly. “Now he has more maturity, he knows what he needs to do, he proves that with us.

“I think his performances at United are far from being as bad a people say. “He is part of a team which has worse results than we could have expected, that’s for sure, but they are still a very strong team. When it matters he is there.”

United head to title hopefuls Chelsea on Saturday in the early Premier League kick off and are 4.75 to come out on top.

The Old Trafford outfit are currently eighth in the table, five points adrift of Arsenal in fourth and seven behind leaders Manchester City, and can be backed at 3.40 to secure a top four finish or 81.00 to win the Premier League outright.