Adam Lallana says Rickie Lambert’s success with England has inspired him to rekindle his international ambitions.

The Saints skipper was called into the England squad last September for the World Cup qualifier against Ukraine but didn’t feature in the game and hasn’t been selected since.

Lallana was delighted to see teammate Lambert, pictured right, score on his England debut against Scotland last week and admits he and the rest of the squad have taken heart from it with regards to their chances of a call-up.

“Of course you do, as should all the English lads in our team,” he said.

“He’s made it all the way to the top from League 2 and League 1, so it’s kind of the perfect story really.

“It’s just a privilege to be playing with him and training with such a humble guy, but a quality professional, day in and day out.

“Everyone’s buzzing about it and took a lift from it.

“Not just the players, but the staff, the cleaners, the people who work in the canteen, everyone. Everyone’s asking questions about it when he came in, and it’s good.”

There has been a school of thought in the past that playing for Southampton could be a hindrance to international hopes rather than a help.

However, Lallana refutes suggestions that Lambert wasn’t an easy selection for Roy Hodgson.

“Wasn’t it? 15 goals,” he replied, referring to Lambert’s Premier League tally from last season.

“Listen, I’m not going to say too much, but his selection proved correct. He won England the game, you’ve seen the reaction of all of the England lads once he’s scored, it just proves he’s a quality player, and he backs it up with the stats and the performance.”

He added: “It was massive, it just gave everyone a lift around the whole football club – not just the players, but the staff. It was just a massive buzz, and when we came back in and seen him we were all asking questions and it was like just a bunch of kids asking questions.

“He’s the same, he’s all giddy about it still. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy, and we’re all so happy. He’s been our talisman for three or four years now, and just thrilled to be playing with him week in and week out, and just so happy for him.”

Saints opened their season with a Lambert winner to seal an impressive first day victory at West Brom.

They host Sunderland at St Mary’s on Saturday and Lallana is hoping for an even better performance, and the same result.

“I thought as a team we showed what we’d been working on in pre-season and we just lacked a little bit in the final third, just to get that finishing touch, but to come off the pitch with three points that’s what we’ve set out to do.”