Tony Pulis wants Rickie Lambert to stay at West Brom

Tony Pulis still thinks Rickie Lambert has got a Premier League season left in him and wants to keep the 34-year-old striker at the club.

Lambert has scored one goal and made just five league starts since the Baggies bought him from Liverpool last summer for £3million.

Two years ago, he appeared in the World Cup for England, but a couple of seasons being sat on the bench at Anfield and The Hawthorns have left him nowhere near Roy Hodgson's side.

Lambert has looked off the pace this season, and his only goal for the club came from the penalty spot against Leicester on Halloween.

But Pulis has backed the former Southampton striker to improve next season after a pre-season with him, climbing the hills of Austria.

According to the head coach, Lambert is going to prepare for those gruelling runs as he tries to get back to full fitness.

"I'm quite happy with Rick," said Pulis. "Rick has struggled this year with the amount of games he's played but he's a good lad around the place and he's a very good professional. I like Rick a lot.

"He's got this pre-season teed up, to get himself to a different level to where he was last year.

"I have just had 20 minutes with him and he is a good lad. He is a good professional.

"I think he will be prepared for those hills – but I'm not so sure he's looking forward to them!"

Lambert has got one year left on his £42,000-a-week contract, and there have been reports in the national media that he is heading for the exit door.

But Albion are going to let Victor Anichebe leave this summer and could sell Saido Berahino too, so Pulis wants to keep Lambert as back-up while replacing those two with new additions