LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 6, 2014: Liverpool's Rickie Lambert shows his frustration at the assistant referee as his side are held to a goal-less draw against Sunderland during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Rickie Lambert loses place in England squad

Liverpool forward Rickie Lambert hasbeen omitted from Roy Hodgson’s England squad for their games against Italy and Lithuania next week.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 4, 2014: Liverpool's Rickie Lambert in action against West Bromwich Albion during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The 33-year-old is overlooked with Tottenham‘s Harry Kane called up instead.

Daniel Sturridge, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana are named in the squad.

Lambert has been out-of-favour at Anfield of late and has only started one match since mid-December (when the Reds changed formation) – that being against AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup in early January.

The £4 million summer signing turned down a deadline day move to Aston Villa, but has barely featured since – featuring four times as a sub, for a combined time of 35 minutes.

It’s a shame that Lambert has been used in this manner by Brendan Rodgers and does leave you wondering why exactly he even signed the player.