Saturday 15 August 2015 09:35, UK
After Jay Rodriguez made his long-awaited comeback from injury in Southampton's 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Sunday, Nick Wright looks at how the returning forward can boost Ronald Koeman's side...
Sixteen long, agonising months after leaving the field in tears with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against Manchester City, Jay Rodriguez's journey to full fitness is finally over.
The forward's contribution was modest before his 65-minute substitution at St James' Park on Sunday, but it was a cathartic afternoon for a player whose long-awaited competitive return gives Southampton a lift for the season ahead. The 2-2 draw meant there was no winning start for Saints, but assistant manager Erwin Koeman described Rodriguez's return as a "big victory" - and it's easy to understand why.
Rodriguez was in the form of his life in April 2014. Five goals in his previous four appearances had taken his total to 17 for the season, and Southampton travelled to the Etihad Stadium in optimistic mood having thumped Newcastle 4-0 in their previous game. Midway through the first half, however, Rodriguez collapsed in agony clutching his right knee.
The initial prognosis was six months out - wrecking his chances of an England call-up for the World Cup - but worse was still to come, and an infection ruled him out for the rest of the season in November. "With an infection, you think the worst could happen," he said in a recent interview with the Daily Mail. "In the extreme, you could have your leg amputated. That was the darkest moment, around that time. It was hard to take, the setback."
Rodriguez finally glimpsed light at the end of the tunnel this summer. He featured prominently in Southampton's pre-season, and there were goals, too. The 26-year-old scored twice in a 5-4 win over Red Bull Leipzig, there was a hat-trick against Dutch amateurs Quick '20, and he marked his return to St Mary's Stadium with a superb, long-range effort in a 1-1 draw against Espanyol.
And try telling Rodriguez pre-season goals count for nothing. "Every goal means a lot to me, whatever the opposition, especially having missed out for a year," he told Southampton's official website, while club legend and Sky Sports pundit Matt Le Tissier tweeted: "Great to see Jay Rodriguez back and even better to see him back on the scoresheet."
Sixteen months is a long time in football, and while Rodriguez waited for the scars to heal, Southampton also underwent major surgery.
Of the 10 team-mates who started alongside Rodriguez that day at the Etihad, only Jose Fonte, Steven Davies and Paolo Gazzanigga remain at the club. Within five months of his injury, head coach Mauricio Pochettino and key players Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Luke Shaw, Dejan Lovren and Calum Chambers had all departed - and this summer Morgan Schneiderlin and Nathaniel Clyne followed.
Rodriguez became something of a forgotten man as Ronald Koeman rebuilt his decimated squad and defied expectations to secure Southampton's highest-ever Premier League finish last season, but he is now aiming to pick up where he left off in Koeman's new-look side.
Cruciate knee injuries have lasting effects in some cases, but Rodriguez insists he is stronger than ever. "I've got stronger mentally, because it's been a tough time," he said in May. "Physically I've improved my stats. That's what I wanted to get out of this. I've improved my speed and strength." Indeed, Premier League tracking data shows Rodriguez's average speed of 7.31km/h against Newcastle was higher than any of his team-mates, suggesting his industrious playing style is unchanged.
There was no fairytale goal to mark his competitive return at St James' Park, but Rodriguez cleared a significant mental and physical hurdle. The former Burnley man now faces competition from the likes of Graziano Pelle, Sadio Mane, Shane Long and Juanmi, none of whom were Southampton players 16 months ago, and while he may find himself on the bench against Everton on Saturday, his surprise inclusion against Newcastle shows their 2013/14 top scorer is still highly valued.
You have got to aim high and for me the highest is to go and represent your country.
Rodriguez has lost none of his ambition, either, and he is also eyeing a return to the England fold having won his first cap in a friendly against Chile two years ago. "You have got to aim high and for me the highest is to go and represent your country," he told Sky Sports earlier this month.
The likes of Harry Kane and Charlie Austin have jumped ahead of him since the injury, but Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney were the only Englishmen to outscore him two years ago, and he is desperate to make up for lost time. "I've got a lot of hard work to do and hopefully it will come if I keep working hard," he added.
"Keep working hard" are three words that Rodriguez must have heard a lot of over the last 16 months, and it feels like there's plenty more to come from him. He has returned to a club on an upward trajectory - and a return to his best could take Southampton even higher.
