Hatem Ben Arfa admitted he is in the form of his life and still holds out hope of reaching the France squad for Euro 2016 after scoring the first hat-trick of his career on Sunday.

The 29-year-old scored all the goals in Nice's 3-0 win against Rennes that leaves the south-coast side fourth in the Ligue 1 table, just two points off a Champions League spot with five matches remaining.

Ben Arfa has scored 16 league goals in a superb season to relaunch his career after a frustrating time in England with Newcastle United and Hull City.

Only Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored more, and Ben Arfa later told sports daily L'Equipe: "I'm loving it here. I am so happy to be playing at Nice.

"I am having the best time of my career, with these players and this coach," he added of life under Claude Puel on the Cote d'Azur.

Ben Arfa, who is out of contract at the end of the season and attracting the interest of clubs abroad, was recalled to the France squad last November and won his 15th cap in the 2-0 friendly defeat in England.

He was then left out of coach Didier Deschamps' squad for friendly wins over the Netherlands and Russia last month, leaving his hopes of being included when the hosts' 23-man squad for the Euros is announced on May 12 semingly in tatters.

There is intense competition for places in the French attack, but Ben Arfa's display on Sunday put Rennes prodigy Ousmane Dembele firmly in the shade and the player himself is not giving up hope.

"The squad will be announced on May 12. I am going to give everything on the field to be there," he said.

"As long as there is still hope I will keep believing. You know, I am a competitor, you'll see, I will give everything and I will be there until the very end trying to reach our objectives."