Lambert: Pochettino can help Southampton challenge for a top-four spot in the next few years

Lambert: Pochettino can help Southampton challenge for a top-four spot

09-Feb-2013 7:25:00 PM

The striker has given his new manager his full backing, saying St Mary's is an "exciting place to be" and is confident the Saints will avoid relegation this season

Southampton striker Rickie Lambert has heaped praise on new manager Mauricio Pochettino claiming he can help the club challenge for a top-four spot in the coming years.


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8/1	Rickie Lambert is 8/1 to score the first goal when Southampton face Manchester City with BetVictor

The former Espanyol manager replaced Nigel Adkins in January but has yet to taste victory in his new role, although the Saints currently lie 16th in the Premier League, three points clear of the relegation zone.

However, Lambert is confident the new manager can improve the club's fortunes and says a top-four challenge is not "unrealistic".

"The new manager has been great and you can see since he has come to the club he wants to make things happen," he told The Sun.

"The chairman is very ambitious and Southampton is going to be a very exciting place to be over the next few years.

"It is not unrealistic to try and challenge for the top four over the next three years. That is what we have to aim for.

"Three years ago a lot of people would have laughed in our faces if we had said we'd be in the Premier League.

"We have got to keep that momentum going and keep moving forward. I am very confident we will stay up."

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