Everton manager David Moyes has admitted that he considered signing Rickie Lambert a few seasons ago.
Liverpudlian Lambert returns to Merseyside this weekend when Southampton visit Everton.
Moyes revealed that he has been impressed with Lambert's rise to the top level.
The Toffees boss said: "He was in my attention when he was at Bristol Rovers. Round that time we were looking around the leagues to see and we took Jermaine Beckford when Rickie was just about to go to Southampton.
"It's great credit to the boys, you can get released and it does not mean it is the end. What you have to do is go away and work at your game and what Rickie has done over the years is keep scoring goals wherever he has been.
"He deserves credit from working his way up from the bottom to the top."
Lambert has four goals in his first five Premier League matches, including a brace in Saints' first win of the season against Aston Villa last weekend.
