West Ham's Dimitri Payet is 'the arrogant type' like Eric Cantona and Paul Gascoigne, says Rene Girard

On song: Payet has excelled at West Ham this season
IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images
Sam Long8 March 2016

West Ham midfielder Dimitri Payet has been compared to Eric Cantona and Paul Gascoigne by former France Under-21 coach Rene Girard.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed a superb start to his Premier League career and has already been rewarded with a contract extension at Upton Park, despite only joining the Hammers last summer.

Payet has scored eight goals in 22 top-flight appearances for Slaven Bilic's side and his flamboyant displays have struck an instant chord with the West Ham fanbase.

Girard, who called up Payet to the France Under-21 squad in 2007, is adamant his countryman has made such a big impact as the midfielder fits the mould of previous players who have been idolised within the English game.

West Ham star Dimitri Payet was 'silly, childish and physically weak' as a youngster, says former coach
IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images

"I think you English guys love this kind of player," he told the Daily Mail. "He is a Cantona type, a Gascoigne type.

"It's that bit of arrogance, the strut, the artistic sense and that innate ability to illuminate a match.

"He's had that kind of impact on West Ham."

Although Payet has proven to be an instant hit in east London, France manager Didier Deschamps remains unconvinced about the midfielder's talent.

With just 15 senior caps to his name, the last of which arrived in June 2015, Payet could be overlooked at Euro 2016.

West Ham's talisman is competing for a place in Les Bleus squad with Mathieu Valbuena, Antoine Girezmann, Hatem Ben Arfa and Anthony Martial.

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