Rickie Lambert is rewarded with for a goal-den season with the
Player of the Year award at St Mary's.
PFA Fans' Player of the Year - League One
Southampton striker Rickie Lambert has been named the PFA League One Fans' Player of the Year.
The former Bristol Rovers player arrived at St Mary's for a bargain £800,000 in the summer and he has proved one of the best signings of the season.
The 28-year-old has scored 35 goals this term and Saints' boss Alan Pardew recently claimed Lambert was the best front man in the division.
Lambert was also named in the PFA League One Team of the Year and Pardew said: "I can wax lyrical about Rickie but the reason the fans sing his name every week is because they know how important he is to the team.
"He has got to take us through the divisions and I think he can. For me, that would make him as big a name as some of the legends we have had here - the Mick Channon's and the Kevin Keegan's.
Legend
"He is in League One at the moment and perhaps he doesn't deserve to be here, but he is here and if he can get us out of both divisions then he will warrant that kind of tag.
"At the moment, he's not done enough to be a legend at Southampton, but he's had a great season. He's the best goalscorer in the league and I hope he wins it.
"He is a really great lad and sometimes he is a little laid back, but for me he is the best striker in the division."
Certainly the Saints' fans have taken Lambert to their hearts and club legend Matthew Le Tissier believes the 35-goal man can become one of Southampton's great number sevens.
Le Tissier, a former number seven himself, is without question one of Southampton's best ever players, while Kevin Keegan, Alan Ball and Terry Paine are others to have worn that shirt number with such distinction.
Le Tissier said: "If he stays at Saints and keeps playing the way he is, Rickie will be up there with the best number sevens of the past."
