West Ham's Dimitri Payet has praised London rival Eden Hazard for helping make him the player he is today during their time together at Lille.

The pair spent just a season together in Ligue 1 after Payet moved to the then-French champions as a replacement for Gervinho, who had just moved to Arsenal, before the in-demand Hazard chose Chelsea from a host of suitors.

Between them Hazard and Payet were unable to guide Les Dogues to a repeat of their title-winning success as they finished third behind the newly-monied Paris St Germain and surprise champions Montpellier, led by Ligue 1 top scorer Olivier Giroud.

Though Payet has unquestionably eclipsed reigning player of the year Hazard in his first season in the Premier League he said the Belgian international was among a host of top players, including former Marseille team-mate Andre Ayew, who helped him improve his game.

“I have been helped by the top players at all the clubs I have played for,” he told the West Ham website.

“When you are playing with such good players it does make things easier but I also feel that you can learn new things at all ages and at all times from the younger and older players.

“That is what football is all about – getting the best out of everyone and working hard.”

Payet’s adaptation to the rigours of the Premier League has been immediate and impressive, with Saturday’s stunning free-kick against Crystal Palace the ninth top flight goal of his debut season.

West Ham's final season at the Boleyn Ground 26 show all West Ham's final season at the Boleyn Ground 1/26 West Ham's final season at Upton Park ...all the memories from a farewell season. 2/26 West Ham 3-0 Lusitans, July 2



Match report This visit of Andorran minows Lusitans drew a sell-out crowd to Upton Park and the fans were rewarded with two goals from Diafra Sakho and one from James Tompkins. The Hammers went on to win the tie 4-0 on aggregate and progress to the second round of the Europa League. 3/26 West Ham 1-0 Birkirkara FC, July 16



Match report Next up in the Europa League were Birkirkara FC of Malta. A scrappy James Tompkins goal in the last minute spared the home sides' blushes and gave them a goal advantage to take to Malta. The reverse leg ended in defeat but West Ham eventually limped through on penalties 5-3. 4/26 West Ham 2-2 Astra Giurgiu, July 30



Match report Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate put West Ham team2-0 ahead, but the lead was thrown away and the game finished 2-2. Things got worse in the second leg as Slaven Bilic's men lost 2-1 to crash out of Europe before the group stages. 5/26 West Ham 1-2 Leicester, August 15



Match report The West Ham squad started the game unaware they were playing the league’s standout team, but goals from from Shinji Okazaki and Riyad Mahrez soon gave them some idea. Dimitri Payet scored with a powerful strike but the late red card for goalkeeper Adrian put the Hammers’ challenge to bed. 6/26 West Ham 3-4 Bournemouth, August 22



Match report The poor disciplinary record of Bilic’s men continued against Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth with Carl Jenkinson earning the club’s fifth red card of a fledgling season . The resulting seven-goal thriller had mistakes, penalties and goals galore with Mark Noble, Cheikhou Kouyate and Modibo Maiga all getting on the scoresheet. But it was Bournemouth who left with three points, Calum Wilson completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot to put the game beyond West Ham. 7/26 West Ham 2-0 Newcastle, September 14



Match report Dimitri Payet announced himself to the Boyeln season ticket holders by putting two past Newcastle. In the first half, the Frenchman capped a sweeping move involving Noble and Diafra Sakho. His second came just three minutes into the second period; Moses ran the length of the field from a Newcastle corner only to see his effort crash against the crossbar and into the path of Payet who duly dispatched into an empty net. 8/26 West Ham 2-2 Norwich, September 26



Match report Cheikhou Kouyate rescued a point for West Ham with a stoppage time equaliser in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Norwich. Robbie Brady had fired the Canaries into the lead before Sakho equalised. Norwich sub Nathan Redmond’s strike then looked to have given his club a first win at Upton Park for 26 years only for Kouyate to have the final say. 9/26 West Ham 2-1 Chelsea, October 24



Match report This was a London derby to forget as far as Jose Mourinho and Chelsea were concerned. Midfielder Nemanja Matic, his manager Mourinho and first team coach Silvino Louro were all sent off as Chelsea’s title defence began to come apart at the seams. A first goal since January for Andy Carroll gave his team victory. 10/26 West Ham 1-1 Everton, November 7



Match report Manuel Lanzini, Dimitri Payet and Victor Moses linked up well for the Irons against a resilient Everton side. It was Lanzini who eventually got West Ham’s opening goal, but Romelu Lukaku pulled one back before the break. 11/26 West Ham 1-1 West Brom, November 29



Match report A superb free-kick from Mauro Zarate had given West Ham the lead but Rickie Lambert came off the bench to level. That strike left the Hammers winless in four league games and ruing earlier missed chances against the Baggies. 12/26 West Ham 1-1 Stoke, December 12



Match report With Lanzini, Payet, Sakho and Moses all out injured it was no great surprise that West Ham couldn’t find a way past Stoke. Kouyate and Zarate both came close for the hosts but it wasn’t to be and Bilic’s winless streak continued. 13/26 West Ham 2-1 Southampton, December 28



Match report The wait finally came to an end against Southampton as West Ham secured their first win in eight games. Andy Carroll was the hero off the bench scoring a trademark header to clinch the points. Southampton had initially gone ahead thanks to a Carl Jenkinson own-goal in the first half but a bizarre equaliser from Michail Antonio, the ball deflecting off his head after he fell over in the box, had given his side a foothold. 14/26 West Ham 2-0 Liverpool, January 2



Match report Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll were on the scoresheet for the second home game running to see off Liverpool. It was a poor performance by Jurgen Klopp's men, who managed just one shot on target all game as West Ham secured their second win on the bounce and moved up to fifth in the league. 15/26 West Ham 1-0 Wolverhampton, January 9



Match report The Hammers left it late to win this FA Cup tie against stubborn Championship side Wolves. After 85 minutes of pressure but no penetration, Nika Jelavic broke the deadlock. He rifled in a superb volley after good support play from Andy Carroll. 16/26 West Ham 2-2 Manchester City, January 23



Match report Despite twice taking the lead against City, the Hammers were pegged back on both occasions. It was a measure of how much Slaven Bilic had raised expectations at the club that players like skipper Mark Noble were disappointed to only come away with a point against Champions League level opposition. 17/26 West Ham 2-0 Aston Villa, February 2



Match report Remi Garde’s men went a man down after Jordan Ayew saw red for elbowing Aaron Cresswell just 15 minutes into the tie. From then it was all West Ham who promptly ran out comfortable 2-0 winners with goals from Michail Antonio and Cheikhou Kouyate. 18/26 West Ham 2-1 Liverpool, February 9



Match report The Hammers booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Jurgen Klopp’s expense thanks to a dramatic extra time winner. Italian centre back Angelo Ogbonna rose highest to meet Dimitri Payet’s free kick after 210 minutes of football. 19/26 West Ham 1-0 Sunderland, February 27



Match report This was Sam Allardyce’s first return to Upton Park since being sacked by West Ham in the summer. The manager received a warm reception from the home fans but couldn’t prevent his team losing to Michail Antonio's solitary strike in the first half. 20/26 West Ham 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur, March 2



Match report Spurs arrived at the Boleyn in confident mood but left with their title aspirations severely dented. Despite having much less possession, the Hammers looked more dangerous going forward with Payet a constant menace. The breakthrough came early with Michail Antonio heading home after just seven minutes and Spurs couldn’t find a way past the home defence. 21/26 West Ham 2-2 Crystal Palace, April 2



Match report The West Ham faithful hosted Crystal Palace in buoyant mood believing their side could be serious contenders for a Champions league place. But the bubble was soon burst when Delaney headed in at the back post. Lanzini drew the Hammers level before yet another wonder free-kick from Payet had the home fans believing again. But it wasn't to be. Cheikhou Kouyate was shown a red card for a challenge on Dwight Gayle and 10-man West Ham couldn't hold on. Gayle tapped in the equaliser after some bad defending from the home side. 22/26 West Ham 3-3 Arsenal, April 9

Having trailed 2-0, the Hammers fought back to lead 3-2, before being denied victory by Laurent Koscielny's equaliser.

Match report Andy Carroll scored a hat-trick in this thrilling encounter, the last London derby to be played at the Boleyn.Having trailed 2-0, the Hammers fought back to lead 3-2, before being denied victory by Laurent Koscielny's equaliser. 23/26 West Ham 1-2 Manchester United, April 14

James Tomkins' 79th minute header set up a grandstand finish but West Ham couldn't find an equaliser

Match report Goals early in the second half from Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini left the Hammers facing a momentous task in the closing 20 minutes of the Boleyn Ground's final FA Cup tie.James Tomkins' 79th minute header set up a grandstand finish but West Ham couldn't find an equaliser Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images 24/26 West Ham 3-1 Watford, April 20

Match report Andy Carroll's early goal set West Ham on course for a convincing victory, with two penalties for Mark Noble meaning Sebastian Prodl's goal was little more than consolation for the visitors. 25/26 West Ham 1-4 Swansea, May 7

Match report West Ham's Champions League hopes were left in tatters as Swansea stunned the Boleyn on its final Saturday match. 26/26 West Ham 3-2 Manchester United, May 10



Match report The Hammers fought back from behind to cap a stunning final game at the Boleyn, with Winston Reid scoring the winner amid violent scenes as the visitors' team bus was attacked before the game. 1/26 West Ham's final season at Upton Park ...all the memories from a farewell season. 2/26 West Ham 3-0 Lusitans, July 2



Match report This visit of Andorran minows Lusitans drew a sell-out crowd to Upton Park and the fans were rewarded with two goals from Diafra Sakho and one from James Tompkins. The Hammers went on to win the tie 4-0 on aggregate and progress to the second round of the Europa League. 3/26 West Ham 1-0 Birkirkara FC, July 16



Match report Next up in the Europa League were Birkirkara FC of Malta. A scrappy James Tompkins goal in the last minute spared the home sides' blushes and gave them a goal advantage to take to Malta. The reverse leg ended in defeat but West Ham eventually limped through on penalties 5-3. 4/26 West Ham 2-2 Astra Giurgiu, July 30



Match report Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate put West Ham team2-0 ahead, but the lead was thrown away and the game finished 2-2. Things got worse in the second leg as Slaven Bilic's men lost 2-1 to crash out of Europe before the group stages. 5/26 West Ham 1-2 Leicester, August 15



Match report The West Ham squad started the game unaware they were playing the league’s standout team, but goals from from Shinji Okazaki and Riyad Mahrez soon gave them some idea. Dimitri Payet scored with a powerful strike but the late red card for goalkeeper Adrian put the Hammers’ challenge to bed. 6/26 West Ham 3-4 Bournemouth, August 22



Match report The poor disciplinary record of Bilic’s men continued against Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth with Carl Jenkinson earning the club’s fifth red card of a fledgling season . The resulting seven-goal thriller had mistakes, penalties and goals galore with Mark Noble, Cheikhou Kouyate and Modibo Maiga all getting on the scoresheet. But it was Bournemouth who left with three points, Calum Wilson completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot to put the game beyond West Ham. 7/26 West Ham 2-0 Newcastle, September 14



Match report Dimitri Payet announced himself to the Boyeln season ticket holders by putting two past Newcastle. In the first half, the Frenchman capped a sweeping move involving Noble and Diafra Sakho. His second came just three minutes into the second period; Moses ran the length of the field from a Newcastle corner only to see his effort crash against the crossbar and into the path of Payet who duly dispatched into an empty net. 8/26 West Ham 2-2 Norwich, September 26



Match report Cheikhou Kouyate rescued a point for West Ham with a stoppage time equaliser in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Norwich. Robbie Brady had fired the Canaries into the lead before Sakho equalised. Norwich sub Nathan Redmond’s strike then looked to have given his club a first win at Upton Park for 26 years only for Kouyate to have the final say. 9/26 West Ham 2-1 Chelsea, October 24



Match report This was a London derby to forget as far as Jose Mourinho and Chelsea were concerned. Midfielder Nemanja Matic, his manager Mourinho and first team coach Silvino Louro were all sent off as Chelsea’s title defence began to come apart at the seams. A first goal since January for Andy Carroll gave his team victory. 10/26 West Ham 1-1 Everton, November 7



Match report Manuel Lanzini, Dimitri Payet and Victor Moses linked up well for the Irons against a resilient Everton side. It was Lanzini who eventually got West Ham’s opening goal, but Romelu Lukaku pulled one back before the break. 11/26 West Ham 1-1 West Brom, November 29



Match report A superb free-kick from Mauro Zarate had given West Ham the lead but Rickie Lambert came off the bench to level. That strike left the Hammers winless in four league games and ruing earlier missed chances against the Baggies. 12/26 West Ham 1-1 Stoke, December 12



Match report With Lanzini, Payet, Sakho and Moses all out injured it was no great surprise that West Ham couldn’t find a way past Stoke. Kouyate and Zarate both came close for the hosts but it wasn’t to be and Bilic’s winless streak continued. 13/26 West Ham 2-1 Southampton, December 28



Match report The wait finally came to an end against Southampton as West Ham secured their first win in eight games. Andy Carroll was the hero off the bench scoring a trademark header to clinch the points. Southampton had initially gone ahead thanks to a Carl Jenkinson own-goal in the first half but a bizarre equaliser from Michail Antonio, the ball deflecting off his head after he fell over in the box, had given his side a foothold. 14/26 West Ham 2-0 Liverpool, January 2



Match report Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll were on the scoresheet for the second home game running to see off Liverpool. It was a poor performance by Jurgen Klopp's men, who managed just one shot on target all game as West Ham secured their second win on the bounce and moved up to fifth in the league. 15/26 West Ham 1-0 Wolverhampton, January 9



Match report The Hammers left it late to win this FA Cup tie against stubborn Championship side Wolves. After 85 minutes of pressure but no penetration, Nika Jelavic broke the deadlock. He rifled in a superb volley after good support play from Andy Carroll. 16/26 West Ham 2-2 Manchester City, January 23



Match report Despite twice taking the lead against City, the Hammers were pegged back on both occasions. It was a measure of how much Slaven Bilic had raised expectations at the club that players like skipper Mark Noble were disappointed to only come away with a point against Champions League level opposition. 17/26 West Ham 2-0 Aston Villa, February 2



Match report Remi Garde’s men went a man down after Jordan Ayew saw red for elbowing Aaron Cresswell just 15 minutes into the tie. From then it was all West Ham who promptly ran out comfortable 2-0 winners with goals from Michail Antonio and Cheikhou Kouyate. 18/26 West Ham 2-1 Liverpool, February 9



Match report The Hammers booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Jurgen Klopp’s expense thanks to a dramatic extra time winner. Italian centre back Angelo Ogbonna rose highest to meet Dimitri Payet’s free kick after 210 minutes of football. 19/26 West Ham 1-0 Sunderland, February 27



Match report This was Sam Allardyce’s first return to Upton Park since being sacked by West Ham in the summer. The manager received a warm reception from the home fans but couldn’t prevent his team losing to Michail Antonio's solitary strike in the first half. 20/26 West Ham 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur, March 2



Match report Spurs arrived at the Boleyn in confident mood but left with their title aspirations severely dented. Despite having much less possession, the Hammers looked more dangerous going forward with Payet a constant menace. The breakthrough came early with Michail Antonio heading home after just seven minutes and Spurs couldn’t find a way past the home defence. 21/26 West Ham 2-2 Crystal Palace, April 2



Match report The West Ham faithful hosted Crystal Palace in buoyant mood believing their side could be serious contenders for a Champions league place. But the bubble was soon burst when Delaney headed in at the back post. Lanzini drew the Hammers level before yet another wonder free-kick from Payet had the home fans believing again. But it wasn't to be. Cheikhou Kouyate was shown a red card for a challenge on Dwight Gayle and 10-man West Ham couldn't hold on. Gayle tapped in the equaliser after some bad defending from the home side. 22/26 West Ham 3-3 Arsenal, April 9

Having trailed 2-0, the Hammers fought back to lead 3-2, before being denied victory by Laurent Koscielny's equaliser.

Match report Andy Carroll scored a hat-trick in this thrilling encounter, the last London derby to be played at the Boleyn.Having trailed 2-0, the Hammers fought back to lead 3-2, before being denied victory by Laurent Koscielny's equaliser. 23/26 West Ham 1-2 Manchester United, April 14

James Tomkins' 79th minute header set up a grandstand finish but West Ham couldn't find an equaliser

Match report Goals early in the second half from Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini left the Hammers facing a momentous task in the closing 20 minutes of the Boleyn Ground's final FA Cup tie.James Tomkins' 79th minute header set up a grandstand finish but West Ham couldn't find an equaliser Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images 24/26 West Ham 3-1 Watford, April 20

Match report Andy Carroll's early goal set West Ham on course for a convincing victory, with two penalties for Mark Noble meaning Sebastian Prodl's goal was little more than consolation for the visitors. 25/26 West Ham 1-4 Swansea, May 7

Match report West Ham's Champions League hopes were left in tatters as Swansea stunned the Boleyn on its final Saturday match. 26/26 West Ham 3-2 Manchester United, May 10



Match report The Hammers fought back from behind to cap a stunning final game at the Boleyn, with Winston Reid scoring the winner amid violent scenes as the visitors' team bus was attacked before the game.

That is nine more than his struggling former team-mate Hazard has managed in a frustrating campaign at Chelsea and the West Ham playmaker is set to be among the leading contenders to take over as player of the year.

Whilst he took his time in arriving in England Payet has proven to be worth the wait and he believes that the experience he gained at Lille and Marseille has only aided the transition.

“I would say that I have been consistent and I have carried on my form from Marseille last season,” he said.

“My maturity has helped me see things differently at the age of 29 and this has been the best season of my career so far.”