Last Updated: Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:45
Rickie Lambert is 'disappointed' not to have received an England call-up after his goals record for Southampton but he won't give up.
The 30-year-old hitman, who has spent the vast majority of his playing career in the lower leagues, has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water this term with 11 goals so far, making him the joint-leading English scorer along with Arsenal's Theo Walcott.
However, Three Lions coach Roy Hodgson opted to overlook Lambert when he named his squad for this week's friendly international against Brazil at Wembley.
The Saints star, who was on target in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Wigan, confirmed that he has not been contacted by anyone from the England camp. But Lambert feels he is playing well enough to have been considered and he will endeavour to prove that in the remainder of this season.
He said: "I was disappointed (not to be in the squad).
"I'm not saying I was expecting it but I was hoping, and it wasn't to be. But hopefully I can show until the end of the season that I am good enough, not just that I deserve a chance but that I am good enough.
"If it comes, it comes and if it doesn't, it doesn't. I'm just going to try to help Southampton, try to score goals and push Southampton up the league table.
"I'm not going to focus on the England squad too much but I am hoping I can get a chance.
"I don't think my age is a hindrance. I've just got to try to prove to them that I'm good enough. I've got quite a lot of games left to do that."
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