The Saints were in the bottom three of the Premier League as recently as late February but now have a five-point cushion on 18th placed Cardiff City after a run of three wins in four games.
And former Liverpool forward Lambert, who spent five years at Southampton before arriving at Anfield in 2014, has been thoroughly impressed by the influence Hasenhuttl has exerted at St Mary’s.
“Ralph has had a great impact,” the former England international stated on LFCTV’s Premier League Preview Show. “I think he was needed and the change of manager came at the right time.