It has been a very long wait for Rickie Lambert but finally the 31-year-old Southampton striker got his chance on the international stage last night - and didn't he take it!
After watching much of the game from the sidelines, Lambert was substituted on in place of Wayne Rooney late in the second and, with his first touch of the ball, sealed a 3 - 2 victory with a blisteringly powerful header.
It was the sort of goal that roared, "Look what you have been missing!"
Roy Hodgson's inclusion of Lambert in his England squad for the friendly yesterday was met with some surpise but approval by many, when it was announced earlier this week.
Lambert's rise to the top of English football has been completely opposite to many young footballer's career these days. Whilst players like Wilfried Zaha find themselves getting a call-up before they have even played a full season, Lambert has struggled to make a name for himself for the past ten years,
Ten years ago this week, the charasmatic Geordie was playing for Stockport against Luton in what is now League One - losing the game 2 - 1.
His fairytale has made the striker all the more appealing to fans and down-to-earth Lambert seems like a breath of fresh air, compared to the usual egotistical footballers nowadays.
There has been arguements in the past about whether he really is good enough to play at the very top level... Well if he keeps playing like that then, yes.
