John Aldridge: 'Rickie Lambert could have been better than Mario Balotelli'

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has claimed that Rickie Lambert could have made a bigger mark at Anfield than Fabio Borini or Mario Balotelli had he been given more of a chance.

The Kirkby-born forward joined his boyhood club from Southampton last summer, but has struggled for regular football and was believed to be close to joining Aston Villa in January.

Aldridge told the Liverpool Echo: "I think Rickie Lambert has been under-played this season. I think he'd have made a bigger mark than Fabio Borini or Mario Balotelli if he'd have been given more of a chance.

"I know it's all hypothetical now but if he had started a few more of those early games instead of Balotelli then he might be on double figures now.

"Unfortunately it hasn't happened for Rickie for whatever reason and he's got a big decision to make - does he want to stay and be a bit-part player or does he want to leave his beloved club and play more games somewhere else?"

Chelsea are said to be interested in Lambert as a replacement for Didier Drogba.