Wednesday 29 April 2015 19:09, UK
Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez has returned to full training and could make his Premier League return at the ground where he suffered a serious knee injury over a year ago.
The 25-year-old ruptured his cruciate ligament in Saints’ 4-1 defeat at Manchester City in April 5, 2014 - the same ground on which he also made his Southampton debut on the opening day of the 2012-13 season.
Rodriguez, who scored 17 goals in 40 appearances prior to his injury last term, was applauded by his teammates as he took to the training field at Southampton's base at Staplewood and he could make his return when his side travel to the Etihad on the final day of the campaign.
The attacker will feature for the club's U21s in the coming weeks, having worked tirelessly to return to his previous best.
In November 2013, Rodriguez broke into Roy Hodgson's England squad and made his debut against Chile and he was expected to be part of Hodgson's World Cup squad in 2014 had it not been for his injury.
England face the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia in a friendly and European Qualifier this June, and it remains to be seen whether he can reassert himself into Hodgson's plans before then.
Nevertheless, the former Burnley attacker's return comes as a timely boost to Saints boss Ronald Koeman, whose side can still secure a Europa League place with a top-six finish.
Koeman's side travel to Sunderland this weekend before games against Leicester and Aston Villa, and then City on May 24.
