Slaven Bilic hails set-piece king Dimitri Payet

Slaven Bilic believes Dimitri Payet’s stunning free-kicks this season have put him in the same bracket as David Beckham.

West Ham’s French star Payet has scored from three spectacular efforts from outside the area in the last month alone.

He followed up a 30-yard free-kick at Manchester United in the FA Cup with a carbon copy for France against Russia.

And Payet arguably topped the lot with his looping, dipping shot into the opposite corner in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace last weekend.

Beckham made his name as a free-kick specialist with United and England, his most famous effort coming against Greece to fire the Three Lions to the 2002 World Cup.

And Hammers boss Bilic feels Payet is now in the same league as ‘Goldenballs’ himself.

“They are both great free-kick takers,” said Bilic. “You can’t say anyone was better than Beckham at taking free-kicks.

“But then again you can say the same thing about Dimitri this season. In no time we can name five or six great ones.

“The tempo he is putting them in is amazing.”

Payet is certain to take aim again should the Hammers be awarded a foul within 30 yards of goal when Arsenal visit Upton Park today.

Bilic says the midfielder’s only problem now is that every time he steps up to take one he is expected to score — even in training.

“A couple of days ago he put the ball down and now everybody — even the groundsman — is expecting every time he shoots to put it in the top corner,” revealed Bilic.

“And if it isn’t in the top corner then all of us are quite disappointed.”