John Barnes has praised England striker Rickie Lambert and hailed him as a role model.

The former Liverpool star believes that young English footballers should draw inspiration from the Southampton forward, who has risen from League Two to the Premier League.

"Rickie Lambert should be a role model for all young English players and not just in terms of young English players who are playing in the Premier League, but those in the lower leagues," he told talkSPORT.

"It shows if you do have the right desire and the right determination it doesn't matter where you have come from. I'm really pleased for him."

Lambert, who boasts Macclesfield, Stockport, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers among his former clubs, has been named in the starting XI for England's World Cup qualifier with Moldova on Friday.

Written by
Mark Langshaw