A win in the Ukraine will put England in the driving seat for automatic qualification for the World cup, who would bet against Rickie Lambert once again being the hero.

A month ago Rickie Lambert was probably planning his summer holiday for 2014, somewhere hot where he could watch the World Cup, even a week ago he probably thought his plans might not change much, but a goal in England's win at the weekend made people sit up and take notice, now if Rickie can repeat those heroics against Ukraine, then England fans will start to realise that what the national side has been missing is pride and passion in pulling on the shirt and that it's far better to go down fighting than what they barely a whimper.

So Rickie has the chance to break his travel agents heart and fire the three lions another step towards Brazil, but more to the point he has the chance to reclaim the England team for the fans, the story just keeps on getting good written, just when you think it can't go anywhere further another chapter more incredible than the last keeps getting added.

Photo: Action Images

LostBoys added 15:29 - Sep 8 I was fortunate enough to briefly meet him again at the teams hotel in Norwich. I obviously congratulated him on his call up. He is so modest and self effacing it is nearly unreal such a nice bloke with no trace of the arrogance shown by some of the w****rs in the England squad. I hope he gets a hat trick againt the Ukraine to get him a slot to Brazil. Brilliant stuff.

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Hugh_Jarce added 17:38 - Sep 8 Best £1m we ever spent. Some of the Colslaw guys met RL after Spuds last year and said exactly the same thing - down to earth regular guy
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ExiledSupporter added 11:41 - Sep 9 Far and away the best part of his performance vs Moldova was his link up play with Wellbeck, in particular his two passes that set up Wellbecks goals. Can he do this for Saints or were Moldova simply a rather poor team, less good than any of the EPL teams. He looks better than Ramirez does at the moment, playing in the hole (perhaps behind Osvaldo)?
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bstokesaint added 12:09 - Sep 9 When Rickie was brilliant in League 1, I thought he could cut in the Championship. When he was excellent in the Championship I thought he'd be okay in the Premiership. When he proved he cut hack it in the Premiership I thought he wouldn't disgrace himself in an England shirt. Let's face every time someone raises the bar he goes that to that next level. He looked so natural in the role he played and was involved in everything. It was a joy to watch him. And if it wasn't for any Andy Clownsend he probably would have been man of the match too. Gerrard was good, but he's played better games.

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brady100 added 12:42 - Sep 9 Was at the game on Friday, its fair to say Rickie is a fans favourite....everyone (from all clubs) has really taken to him, he received a standing ovation when he was substituted and has brought a new found positivity and passion to the team. What really does wind me up though is the journalists who still comment on their surprise that Rickie has an eye for a pass and isn’t simply a target man. Where have these people been for the last year at least, do they even watch football!?!?

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Whatsforpud added 13:40 - Sep 9 Never has beetroot been mentioned so often in the press as has been the case for the past month. Sales of the vegetable must be must be sky-high.
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blambo added 19:01 - Sep 10 I believe that the last 3 Saints to play for England were Ricky, Crouch and Beattie. All #9's (strikers). Why don't Saints produce England players in other positions I wonder ?
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