Nice forward Hatem Ben Arfa is hopeful that getting the first hat trick of his senior career can help him earn a place in France's squad for Euro 2016.
Ben Arfa, 29, now has 16 goals in Ligue 1 this season after his triple lifted Nice to fourth in the table following a 3-0 home win against Rennes on Sunday.
The former Newcastle United player was recalled by France in November but was then left out of the squad for friendlies against the Netherlands and Russia last month in favour of West Ham's Dimitri Payet.
The Euro 2016 hosts' assistant manager Guy Stephan hinted recently that Ben Arfa's chances of making the final cut for this summer's tournament were fading.
But the player himself is convinced that he can force his way back into France manager Didier Deschamps' plans.
"The squad will be named on May 12," Ben Arfa told L'Equipe after Nice's win over Rennes.
"I'm going to give everything on the pitch until then. As long as there is hope, I believe.
"You know, I'm a competitor. You'll see that I'll give everything and until the end I'll be there to try and reach my objectives."
Nice leapfrogged Rennes in the table following Sunday's win and visiting coach Rolland Courbis was impressed by the man who tore his side apart. "Everyone knows that Hatem is a very good player," he said.
"We didn't learn that this evening. You don't score 16 goals like that, soon 20, without having something.
"In his efficiency and his performance, with his passes and the space that he brought about for his team... it's by far his best season."