Southampton striker Rickie Lambert relishing Manchester City challenge

Southampton striker Rickie Lambert has said that he wants to start life in the Premier League in style.

Lambert, who is in line to make his top-flight debut against champions Manchester City today, thinks that the match provides the perfect proving ground for the Saints at this level.

He told The Sun: "If you're going to wish for a big game, this is the one, the champions away.

"Vincent Kompany is the best defender in the world so I can't wait to test myself against him.

"It has been a long road. I'd be lying if I said I was thinking then that I'd play in the Premier League. The love of the game kept me going. I just didn't want to give it up."

The 30-year-old scored 27 goals in the Championship last season to fire the Saints into the Premier League.