England striker Rickie Lambert has credited former boss Mauricio Pochettino for helping him break into Roy Hodgson's squad for the World Cup.
Both Lambert and Pochettino have now left Southampton, joining Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur respectively this summer, but he feels that his game made significant strides under the Argentine that helped him force his way into the Three Lions team.
The 32-year-old told The People: "It has been quite the journey. The way it has gathered momentum, it's frightening. Everything went our way at Southampton and each manager that came in improved me massively, especially Mauricio.
"He taught me how to be a different kind of player and I think that's helping now. The pre-season Mauricio gave us last year was horrendous – but the benefit it gave all of us, especially myself and Adam Lallana, was massive."
Lambert scored 13 goals for the Saints in the Premier League last season to earn a place in Hodgson's squad for the tournament in Brazil.
Simon Sinclair
