Jay Rodriguez is set for a New Year return to the Saints side after having to undergo a second operation on his injured knee.

Last season’s top scorer has been forced into a routine clear out operation to aid his rehab following the ACL reconstruction he had earlier in the year.

Rodriguez had been well ahead of schedule in his recovery with hopes that he could return to action around the start of December. This latest operation means he is back to his original scheduled recovery time, which is to make a comeback around the turn of the year.

Rodriguez has been out since April 5 when he was stretchered off at Manchester City after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

The £7m signing from Burnley had been on a glorious run of form prior to the injury, which included 17 goals last season.

Though Saints have coped well with his absence, fans and officials alike are desperate to see him back in action for Saints once again.

His presence would be a huge boost to Ronald Koeman’s squad, and add a valuable extra option to the attacking areas.

Rodriguez has the game to stand in for Graziano Pelle as the central striker if required, as well as play from the deeper role in which he flourished so spectacularly last season.

With Sadio Mane, Dusan Tadic and Shane Long as the current options, a Rodriguez return would add a vital extra body, not to mention quality, to the squad when he is fit again.

Rodriguez is at least fortunate that he has the very best medical care at Saints.

The club’s head of sports science, Mo Gimpel, has assembled a world class team who operate in the new state of the art facilities at Staplewood.

Though knee injuries such as this are rarely as cut and dried as a single operation, a recovery period and then a return to action as before, Rodriguez has everything he could possibly need to ensure he has the best possible outcome.

As Rodriguez begins to near a return, Saints will also have to assess whether to break him in gently by fielding him as an overage player for the under-21 side or to put him straight back into first team action with appearances from the sub’s bench to start with.

What is for sure is that Rodriguez, whose stock is so high he has been linked with moves to the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City despite being out with this serious injury, will be warmly welcomed back when he does return.