The former England striker could have been lining up on the other side if he had not turned down Villa.
James Chester says Aston Villa need to be wary of Cardiff City striker Rickie Lambert in their Championship clash, the Birmingham Mail reports.
Steve Bruce’s side will go into the game as overwhelming favourites against a Bluebirds side just three points above the relegation zone, with Villa aiming to repeat their comfortable 3-1 win in November’s previous encounter.
Cardiff have won just once in the league since then, although in-form centre-back Chester says Villa must avoid any complacency and cannot afford to give 34-year-old striker Lambert any encouragement.
“I played with Rickie at West Brom last year and it was an interesting situation for him too, just like myself,” Chester, who found himself out of favour under Tony Pulis at the Hawthorns alongside the former England international, told the Birmingham Mail.
“He’s a really good lad and someone I got on with quite well. I might say hello to him [before kick-off] but I will leave the speaking to after.
“He’s been a top player throughout his career and certainly in this division he’s a real handful. He will be one we have to watch.”
Lambert’s prolific performances for Southampton earned him a starting place in Roy Hodgson’s national side back in 2013, but since departing the South Coast for boyhood club Liverpool he has found the net in just seven of his last 59 league appearances.
However, the veteran forward, who turned down a £5 million move to Villa Park on deadline day in January 2015 due to a burning desire to prove himself at Anfield, according to the Liverpool Echo, still possesses the predatory instincts to punish any mistakes the home defence may hand him.
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