Jay Rodriguez could still make a Saints first team appearance before the end of the season.

The 25-year-old, who this week signed a new contract to keep him at St Mary’s until 2019, has been out for more than a year with a knee injury.

His comeback could coincidentally be at the ground where he sustained the problem, the Etihad Stadium, with Rodriguez having an outside chance of being on the bench for the final day game at Manchester City.

First, Rodriguez, who is back in full training, has to play some minutes for the under-21s, with Saints targeting a game against City at home set to be scheduled for the first part of the week.

If he comes through that unscathed then Saints manager Ronald Koeman will consider getting him involved on the last day.

Koeman said: “He was part of all the sessions this week.

“We are still waiting about confirmation about under-21 game next week against Man City at home as we hope they will play a Tuesday and he will be part of that, maybe in the second half.

“After that maybe there is a possibility to take Jay with the squad for the Manchester City game.

“It will be nice for everybody because it means he will be back but it is too early to make that decision. We have to wait.”

Saints will be missing Morgan Schneiderlin and Dusan Tadic for this weekend’s game against Aston Villa at St Mary’s, but James Ward-Prowse will return from suspension.