Luton Town striker Andre Gray has insisted that Rickie Lambert should be an inspiration to all footballers in the Football League and Conference.
Thirty-two-year-old Lambert spent the majority of his career playing for the likes of Stockport County, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers prior to his 2009 switch to Southampton, who then embarked on successive promotions to the Premier League.
Since then, Lambert has represented England at senior international and Gray, who has just been named in the Three Lions C squad for a friendly with Jordan next month, has admitted that he is full of admiration for the Saints frontman.
"[Playing for England] is a boyhood dream and another dream would be to do what Rickie Lambert did and go through the leagues, to end up playing for the first team," the 22-year-old told Luton Today. "He's set the standard for people like us in non-league to show that the dream is possible."
Gray has scored 22 goals in 29 appearances for Luton this season.
Liam Apicella
