SAINTS legend Rickie Lambert insists that now is not the time to panic about the club’s poor form – and believes it’s a “matter of time” before Mauricio Pellegrio’s men climb up the Premier League.

The 35-year-old, who netted 117 goals in 235 appearances for Saints, keeps track of the team’s progress and is sure they’ll end a woeful recent run, which has seen them win just one in seven matches.

“I’ve heard from a few of the players and everyone inside the building understands it’s not quite going well exactly,” said the former England striker, who retired back in October. “But it’s not far off.

“It’s the first time in a few years there’s been a little dip. It’s not anything to worry about. It’s only a matter of time before this group of players are climbing back up the league.

“But you can’t forget how fierce the competition is in the Premier League. Sooner or later you’re not going to be constantly going up. Eventually you’ll have a little dip.

“The players are on it now and the manager too. Everyone involved I can see they are going to start climbing the league.”

Lambert, who left Saints for boyhood heroes Liverpool in 2014 after a sensational stay at St Mary’s – which included double promotions from League One to Premier League, has urged calm about the way the season is going.

“That’s got to be there from the get-go anyway and I’m sure it is there,” he said, when asked if the team need to fight and pull together now. “If you’re not quite on it you get punished.

“You might not be a million miles away, you might just be able to tweak it here and there and you can see the results change.

“But I don’t think its anything to panic about. Not quite now anyway and I think they are all together.

“From speaking to a few players it’s a good bunch of lads and you’ve just got to be patient with the team. I’m sure they’ll turn it around.”

He added: “I’ve been there myself. Sometimes it’s a performance when you’re losing 2-0 or 3-0 and you come back and draw or you win it, or you’re playing against one of the big boys who you’re not expected to win against and you beat them 2-0 or 3-0.

“That gets you going again and you go on a run. We did it the first season when I was at Saints. We were struggling and then you win three games on the bounce and you go up four or five places and it is soon forgotten about.

“It’s obviously what everyone is hoping for here. As long as you’re believing in what you’re doing it will turn and I’m sure it will.”

Watch out for the Daily Echo's interview with Lambert about his plans for his retirement soon.