‘Who better?’ – Ward-Prowse ‘learnt a lot’ from ex-Liverpool striker

Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse has revealed that he “learnt a lot” from former Saints and Liverpool forward Rickie Lambert.

Ward-Prowse is recognised as one of the best free-kick takers in world football.

The Englishman has scored twelve free-kicks in the Premier League. He is level with Gianfranco Zola and Thierry Henry.

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The only player who has more is David Beckham. The Man Utd legend set the record at 18 before he retired.

Ward-Prowse is part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad and he is likely to start against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday night.

Ahead of this game, the midfielder has revealed that he “learnt a lot” from Lambert on how best to take set-pieces.

The forward spent five years at the Saints between 2009 and 2014. He then had a year at Liverpool and he retired after spells at West Brom and Cardiff City.

Ward-Prowse has suggested that he used to “loiter near” Lambert:

“I had to really go away and practice and try and perfect the dead-ball situations and being in the same squad as Rickie Lambert, who better to teach me?” Ward-Prowse told talkSPORT.

“He had a fantastic record of free-kicks and I learnt a lot from him.

“I remember watching him practising his free-kicks and I would loiter near him to be hopefully be asked to take one or have that opportunity.

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