Moyes: Everton looked at Lambert

Everton manager David Moyes has revealed he considered signing Rickie Lambert before the striker’s move to Southampton in 2009.

Lambert will line up against Everton when Southampton travel to Goodison Park on Saturday and Moyes is well aware of the threat posed by the 30-year-old.

“He (Lambert) was in my attention when he was at Bristol Rovers,” Moyes said.

“Round that time we were looking around the leagues to see and we took Jermaine Beckford when Rickie was just about to go to Southampton.

“We were well aware of him and his goal-scoring and he has done great.”

Moyes has continued to track the progress of the striker during his time at St Mary’s Stadium, and the Scot was full of praise for Lambert and his role in helping Southampton climb from League One to the top flight.

“It is great credit to the boys who come through the leagues – it shows a great deal of hunger and perseverance to get through to the top and Rickie’s done that,” Moyes said.

“You can get released and it does not mean it is the end. What you have to do is go away and work at your game and what Rickie has done over the years is keep scoring goals wherever he has been.

“He deserves credit from working his way up from the bottom to the top.”