PARIS (AP): Paris Saint-Germain striker Guillaume Hoarau, whose confidence hit rock-bottom earlier this season after spending 11 games without scoring, is starting to silence his critics.
Hoarau's capacities to deliver at the highest level were questioned when he broke into tears after being substituted earlier this season during a game at Montpellier.
Sitting on the bench, the 26-year-old forward started to cry, with pundits questioning whether he would be mentally strong enough to bounce back.
The France forward answered with a hat trick in a 4-1 win over Martigues in the French Cup on Wednesday, hitting form again at the right time before next week's friendly against Brazil.
Hoarau is also expected to start PSG's league match at fourth-place Rennes on Saturday. PSG is in second place in the standings, four points behind leader Lille.
"The important thing was to get through. We went about things in the right manner," Hoarau said after his hat trick. "For a striker, there is nothing better than scoring a goal, although I benefited from the hard work put in by my teammates."
This season, Hoarau has often been overshadowed by Brazilian midfielder Nene, who already has 13 goals and has inspired PSG's rise to second place in the standings.
Hoarau has scored only six goals in 20 league matches but France coach Laurent Blanc has maintained his confidence in the tall forward. Hoarau is now hoping his hat trick will be rewarded by a spot in Blanc's squad for the Brazil match.
"This match against Brazil is like the icing on the cake," Hoarau said. "The France team needs players able to perform and I rang the bell (with my hat trick). Until now I've been left unsatisfied with France, I didn't manage to fully become part of the team."
PSG coach Antoine Kombouare, whose support to Hoarau never wavered, was pleased by the striker's best performance this season.
"He had a great match," Kombouare said. "It's very important both for him and the team. I'm really happy to see him playing good matches at the highest level again."
Against Rennes, Kombouare is likely to be without midfielder Claude Makelele, who injured his left ankle last week. Striker Peguy Luyindula is also doubtful after picking up a pelvis injury at Martigues.
Fourth-place Rennes is lagging three points behind PSG in the standings and will try to bounce back after back-to-back defeats. The club was handed an humiliating 5-1 loss by Sochaux last weekend before losing 4-3 to second-division side Reims in the French Cup.
"Rennes will be a wounded animal after conceding nine goals in two games," Kombouare said. Unbeaten in 11 league matches, Lille plays at Auxerre on Sunday while defending champion Marseille hosts last-place Avignon.
Also Saturday, it's: Brest vs. Nancy; Caen vs. Lorient; Lens vs. Valenciennes; Montpellier vs. Saint-Etienne; and Nice vs. Sochaux.
Marseille coach Didier Deschamps has asked his players to show they are capable of defending their title this season following a disappointing scoreless draw against Monaco.
"I know it's the best attack against the worst defence, but at least the players will be awake after what happened in Monaco, where they maybe thought we had already won the game," Deschamps said. "I want them to take the three points."
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