If only Carlsberg did Debuts....

How often do you get picked to play for your National team for the first time at over 30 years of age? Rarely. Well, that's precisely what happened to Rickie Lambert who was picked to play the England friendly against Scotland on Wednesday 14th August 2013, and boy, how well did he take his chances. He not only got to play, he also scored a goal with his very first touch, hit the post and almost had a hat-trick, all in the spate of twenty-two minutes of coming on when he replaced Wayne Rooney.

At 31 years of  age, the dream of ever playing for the National team becomes a mirage but fate and self determination paid a crucial part in his call-up. For a player who had spent almost his entire footballing career in the lower divisions of English Football, Rickie benefited from Injuries and withdrawals to win his first call up to the English squad.

Rickie made his debut in the Premiership last season when he won promotion with Southampton in the 2011/12 season, after almost 14 years in the lower league with clubs that included Bristol Rovers, Rochdale and Blackpool, and he acquitted himself well to earn praises from fellow players and managers with his goals and influence on his young team.

No doubt that if Carlsberg did Debuts, they'd named it LAMBERT.