West Brom boss Slaven Bilic says Sam Johnstone is key to their survival plans.

The shot-stopper, signed for £6million from Manchester United in 2018, is set to make his 100th appearance for the Baggies at Brighton on Monday.

“Without a good keeper, nobody has got a chance," Bilic said.

“We have good goalkeepers but I am extremely happy with him (Johnstone).

“At the beginning, because this is his first season playing in the Premier League, it was a new challenge for him.

“You would read it's Sam's first time in the Premier League how is he going to do?

“They (the players) read it all, it all goes in their head.

“Then after the Everton and Chelsea games there were a few comments – could he have saved this one or that one.

“Then he had a couple of good games, a few good saves against Southampton.

“A couple of good saves against Burnley and he is confident.

“And that is what we need. We need that kind of performance week-in, week-out if we are going to stay up.

“Hopefully he is going to give it. He is in a good way. He is very confident now.

“We are going to do everything so that he is challenged by our other goalkeepers.

“But we want him to be confident, to maintain this level and even improve."