West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has said he considers Dimitri Payet to be on the same level as Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil.
France international Payet excelled after joining West Ham from Marseille in the summer before suffering an ankle injury in November.
However, Bilic has said the 28-year-old should be fit to return to face Liverpool on Saturday and feels the playmaker bears comparison with in-form Germany star Ozil.
Asked about Payet, who scored five goals and provided three assists in 12 Premier League games before his injury, Bilic said: “I rate him on the same level as Mesut Ozil.
“He makes other players better. He creates space for others, he creates chances, he can take three or four players out of the game.
“He adapted immediately to the club and the players recognised his ability straight away.”
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