Jose Mourinho has made a pointed joke about the need for his star man Eden Hazard to receive more protection from referees.

The Frenchman was Chelsea's match-winner at West Ham last night as the Blues kept up their lead at the top of the Premier League. 

And when Hazard's player-of-the-year credentials were put to his Portuguese boss post-match, the 52-year-old responded: "For sure he's going to win the shin-pad of the year.

"The player with more fouls on him - that's for sure ... but I really think he's having a fantastic season so hopefully the kid has that award.

"I promise you - the kid is not thinking about it. He wants to win - he wants to win the title. If he gets a title he's not thinking about individual awards. He's not that kind of kid."