Football
Mark Rodden 8y

Dimitri Payet: This is my best season but I'm not a West Ham legend yet

Dimitri Payet has said he is having the best season of his career, but feels he has more work to do if he wants to be compared to previous West Ham United legends.

Payet, 29, has taken English football by storm since making a summer move from Marseille, scoring nine goals in the Premier League and creating 10 more.

Having helped West Ham to sixth in the table, the French international was voted on to the PFA Premier League Team of the Year and was also nominated for the Player of the Year prize -- won by Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez.

Earlier this week the playmaker and free-kick specialist won five awards at the club's end of season ceremony, including the Hammer of the Year gong for best player.

West Ham awards yesterday night. Amazing evening with 5 awards received. Thank you everyone for having chosen me and for your confidence. @whufc_official #teamboumbam #hammers #27 #westhamawards #thankyou #coyi #whufc

A photo posted by Dimitri Payet (@payetdimitri27) on

But Payet does not feel he yet deserves to be mentioned in the same terms as West Ham legends like Bobby Moore, Carlos Tevez and Paulo Di Canio.

"I don't know if you can already talk about a legend after only a few months at a club," he told L'Equipe. "When you know the name of the legends there are at this club, between Moore, Tevez, Di Canio... it's flattering. But I still have a lot to do to measure up to them."

Payet's fellow professionals in France have also taken note of his exceptional form, as he has been nominated for a new award recognising the best French footballer playing outside of the country.

His consistent performances earned him a recall at international level. And he looks certain to be included in France's Euro 2016 squad after scoring a superb free-kick in their 4-2 win over Russia in March.

The former Saint-Etienne and Lille player is enjoying every minute of a dream campaign.

"It's the best season of my career, in line with what I was doing with Marseille last season, with maybe a bit more visibility because it's the Premier League," he said.

"And then I've managed to reproduce with the national team what I've done with my club. At the moment, I'm savouring it."

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