Olympique Marseille's Remy challenges Manchester United's Evra during their Champions League soccer match at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille
Olympique Marseille's Remy challenges Manchester United's Evra during their Champions League soccer match at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille. Reuters

Manchester United defender Patrice Evra is one of the world's best fullbacks when in form, according to Football Focus pundit Garth Crooks.

Evra looked back to his best during Manchester United's victory at Villa Park on Saturday evening but has struggled for consistency for large parts of the season.

The Frenchman was widely criticised for his performance in Manchester United's humbling 6-1 loss in the derby in October, and the Red Devils have been perpetually linked with potential candidates to replace the former France captain.

Although Manchester United have in recent weeks been linked with Christian Fuchs and Jordi Alba, the aforementioned Crooks believes Evra has few peers when he is on top of his game, as he was during their 1-0 victory over Aston Villa.

"Here is a player who on his day is one of the best left-backs in the game." Crooks told the BBC in regards to the Manchester United fullback.

"Tough, feisty and very comfortable in both penalty boxes, he also never ducks a battle which makes him a Sir Alex Ferguson favourite."

The Manchester United defender's form has perhaps suffered under the added scrutiny of his well-documented racism case against Liverpool forward Luis Suarez.

The FA have charged the Uruguayan striker with "using abusive and/or ­insulting words and/or behaviour" towards the Manchester United star during their encounter at Anfield in October but thus far the powers that be have not revealed when Suarez's case will be heard.