DANNY Ings hopes he can follow in Rickie Lambert’s footsteps by becoming a fans’ favourite at St Mary’s.

Lambert is revered for helping the club seal back-to-back promotions from League One into the Premier League.

The former striker hailed Ings in a recent interview, saying how “shocked” he was by the 27-year-old’s quality.

And the current Saints returned the compliment by paying tribute to Lambert’s legendary status.

“I think for any player, no matter where they play, they want to be seen in a good light from the fans,” Ings told the Daily Echo.

“He’s done so much for Saints over the years.

“I remember playing against him when I was at Bournemouth and he was a nightmare to play against.

“I’ll never forget the free-kick he scored against us.

“He’s a great guy, an unbelievable player and he’s done a lot in the game.”

Ings is currently gearing up for next week’s return to Premier League action.

Saints’ trip to Norwich will be one of the first matches to be screened live after football was placed on hold for three months due to the coronavirus crisis.

The striker is sat on 18 goals in all competitions, 15 of those coming in the Premier League, and is keen to add to that tally once play resumes.

The former Liverpool man added: “I am always trying to give my best and I’m always looking for ways to improve my game. 

"That will never stop.”