Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has praised striker Rickie Lambert ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with champions Manchester City.

Lambert will go into the match at St Mary's Stadium with 99 goals for the Saints to his name.

"Not only for me, but for anybody that likes football they can see that Rickie Lambert is a great footballer," Pochettino told the club's official website.

"Let's hope that in his next match Rickie will score his 100th goal and then his 101st and 102nd!"

Lambert has found the net 11 times in 22 games for Southampton this season.