Southampton’s Rodriguez faces eight weeks out with injury

Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez has been hit by another injury setback after learning he requires surgery on his foot.

The 26-year-old came back into the side at the start of the season after spending more than a year recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, but has not played since the 2-2 draw with Leicester City in October.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman admitted before the weekend that Rodriguez could require surgery to fix his latest injury, which is believed to relate to a nerve in his foot. Sources close to the player have confirmed that the former Burnley striker will have surgery on Tuesday and is now facing up to eight weeks out.

Rodriguez was widely tipped to be included in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man England squad for the World Cup last summer, but was ruled out after injury against Manchester City two months prior to the tournament.

Southampton are currently eighth in the Premier League after their eight-game unbeaten run was ended in a 1-0 loss to Stoke City at St Mary’s on Saturday.