Fowler: It's the best story
Rickie Lambert will walk out onto the famous Anfield turf as a Liverpool player for the very first time today - a moment Robbie Fowler has described as 'the best story in football'.
The Kop's new No.9 was released by the club as a 15-year-old, but he has bounced back to star in the Barclays Premier League, play in a World Cup for England and is now preparing to start the new campaign with his beloved Reds.
His path to an Anfield return is well respected by Fowler, although he insists any parallels between his own return to the club as a player under Rafael Benitez and the new No.9's, are minimal.
Fowler told Liverpoolfc.com: "For me, his is the best story ever in football. For what he's gone through to get where he is now - it doesn't get any better.
"I know you might try and compare it with me coming back but I was always [playing at the] top-level, starting in the Premier League, then came back to the top-level.
"Rickie started at Liverpool as a kid, then goes to clubs who, no disrespect by any means, aren't fashionable. It shows how good of a player he is and how professional and driven he was to get to the top.
"It's taken him a few years to get into the Premier League but the story is unbelievable - I'd don't think it gets better and I don't think it's comparable to what I've gone through.
"I really, really want him to succeed because he deserves it. It's a phenomenal achievement and I can't wait to see him play."