Rickie Lambert more than earned his place in Southampton folklore across his five years at St Mary’s, firing the Saints from League One to the Premier League.
Russell Martin could certainly do with a player of Rickie Lambert’s ability as he guides Southampton in the Premier League this season.
Having signed for the Saints from Bristol Rovers in summer 2009, Lambert would go onto score 117 goals in 235 games in a journey that involved consecutive promotions before earning international recognition having proven himself in the Premier League.
Lambert left Southampton for Liverpool for £4 million in 2014 with the club not standing in his way and allowing the striker to sign for his boyhood club.
Despite that, the 42-year-old maintains legend status at St Mary’s for the part he played in getting the club back to where it belongs.
Rickie Lambert tells Southampton to sign a target man this summer
Lambert was the stereotypical ‘good touch for a big man’ striker, with observers often left surprised by his technical ability.
The 6ft 3ins centre-forward scored many a header across his career but complimented this with vision that perhaps never got the credit it deserved from outside the Southampton fanbase.
Lambert was a guest on TalkSPORT on Tuesday morning, where he revealed what he thinks the current Southampton squad is missing.
Lambert said (8:54am): “The one thing I have said is that if we can bring in a kind of target man who then our attacking players can feed off. I think there are goals in the team, but we just need that one addition.”
Given that is exactly the kind of forward Lambert was perhaps he is biased in this assessment, but Martin will be keen on brining in one or two more signings before the end of August.
Southampton unlikely to sign another striker this summer despite Lambert advice
Southampton look set to wrap a deal for exciting attacking midfielder Mateus Fernandes shortly, with the Portugal talent the 11th first-team signing of the summer.
- READ MORE: Who is Mateus Fernandes? The ‘complete’ £16m gem set to become Southampton’s 11th summer signing
However, the Saints undoubtedly need a new goalkeeper and remain in the market for a winger.
Given strikers Ben Brereton Diaz and Cameron Archer have both signed already this summer and Ross Stewart is closing in on his long-awaited return, it is very unlikely Lambert will get his wish of a target man coming in before Deadline Day.
Brereton Diaz is a player who likes the physical side of the game and could be the focal point at times but also likes to drift to the left.
Stewart fits the profile Lambert wants to see but the biggest problem since his arrival last summer is getting him on the pitch; the Scotland international having made just four appearances from the bench last season amid injury struggles.
A combination of those three options – as well as Adam Armstrong – may just have to do for Martin this season, with Sekou Mara looking set to depart.