Mauricio Pochettino has backed Jay Rodriguez to bounce back from injury as a stronger player.

The club’s top scorer is facing at least six months on the sidelines after rupturing his ACL against Manchester City last weekend.

Rodriguez has yet to have surgery with the medical staff working to bring down the swelling before he can go under the knife.

The injury ended Rodriguez’s chances of going to the World Cup with England but Pochettino believes his man will be a better player on his return.

“I am certain he is going to become reinforced out of this situation and become stronger out of this situation,” said the Saints boss.

“No player likes to go through the situation he is about to go through but I am positive that he’s going to return and reinforced and reinvigorated from this difficult situation he is in.”

He added: “It’s clear that we are all very sad for his situation. It is a heavy blow to withstand.

“We know he’s a very strong character and an optimist and he’s doing well mentally.

“He has the full support of the entire squad and the entire football club and what’s important right now is that we know exactly when his surgery is going to happen, he recovers as best as possible and he’s on his road back to fitness as soon as possible.”