Phillips on his former Bristol Roves team-mate
Steve Phillips was full of praise for his former Bristol Rovers team-mate Rickie Lambert after he marked his England debut with the winning goal against Scotland at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday night.
It took the 31-year-old striker just two minutes and 45 seconds for him to bullet a home a header to give England a 3-2 win over the Auld Enemy in a fairly competitive friendly encounter.
Phillips won promotion alongside Lambert and also reached the Football League Trophy because the robust striker moved on to Southampton.
After seeing his down to earth former team-mate grab the headlines, Phillips exclusively told Crewe Alex player: “When Rickie came to Bristol Rovers he had a bit of weight on him and wouldn’t run the channels, but you could tell he was top quality.
“He had a ferocious shot on him and I remember that from facing him in training every day. If you blinked it was past you and in the net. It was unbelievable. He was top notch for us but more of a target man.
“He went to Southampton and I remember talking to a few months after he had signed for them and he was telling me about running the channels! I nearly fell off my chair. He has developed into a top striker and the England call-up came a year too late for me. He should have been in before.
Stevie added: “I was made up that he got his cap and then to score the winner with his first touch is just amazing for him. He is one of the nicest and most down to earth people in football and he thoroughly deserved his night.”
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