Ryan Bertrand will make an emotional return to Chelsea on Sunday – and could also boost his hopes of earning an England recall.

The left-back missed the 1-1 draw between the teams at St Mary’s in December as he was on loan from the Blues at that stage.

However, after making his switch to St Mary’s permanent at the end of the transfer window, he is available for Ronald Koeman’s side this weekend, as they look to improve their hopes of qualifying for Europe.

Bertrand might also have an opportunity to boost his own chances of making it back into the England squad, with Roy Hodgson due to name his latest group next Thursday ahead of the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania and friendly with Italy.

Bertrand’s statistics from this season’s Premier League games are better than almost all his main national left back rivals, including the man he replaced at St Mary’s, Luke Shaw, pictured left.

“I missed the last game and I was going to miss the next game,” Bertrand said of his return to Stamford Bridge.

“It will be a good moment for me to go back there again.

“Strange to play on the other side, but something I’m really looking forward to.”

Bertrand has been one of Saints’ most impressive performers this season, and his availability this weekend, as a result of his £10m move from Chelsea, is a major boost to Koeman, who has a near-fully fit squad to choose from.

Hodgson may also have an eye on proceedings at Stamford Bridge, ahead of choosing his next squad.

Bertrand, who has been capped twice at senior level for England, has not featured for his country since 2012.

His form this season means he must surely be under consideration, however, and the door may be ajar for him this time, as first-choice left-back Leighton Baines is struggling with a quad injury.

If he does get in, he would almost certainly join fellow Saints full-back Nathaniel Clyne, who has begun to establish himself as England’s number-one choice on the right side of defence.

Bertrand was overlooked last time in favour Baines, as well as Manchester United’s Shaw and Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs.

Statistically, though, he has outperformed both Shaw – his predecessor as first-choice Saints left-back – and Gibbs this season.

When it comes to Shaw in particular, there has been a gulf in terms of production from each player.

Bertrand has played more games, scored more goals, created more assists and chances, sent in more crosses and made more interceptions – all in total, as well as the average per game.

Tottenham’s Danny Rose is another name in the mix, along with West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell, who is also having an excellent season.

After the last England squad was announced, Bertrand told the Daily Echo how frustrated he was to have missed out, but explained that he still retained hope of breaking back in this term.

Next week, he will find out if he has.