Jay Rodriguez has been dealt a cruel injury blow after learning he is likely to need surgery on his injured foot.

The Saints striker has only recently fought his way back from a significant knee problem that sidelined him for well over a year.

Just as he thought he was building towards full fitness he has suffered a foot problem, and now it seems he will have to go under the knife again.

Disappointed Saints boss Ronald Koeman said: “Jay is not good.

“He is disappointed because it takes a long time and they did everything about his feet but it looks like it can be surgery next week.”

Koeman was not specific about the amount of time Rodriguez would be out should the surgery go ahead, insisting he will receive further details from the medical staff should it take place.

However, he was able to offer his sympathies to the player, who is facing a really tough time.

“First the medical staff need to make the final call whether yes or no surgery. If its yes then I can tell you more how long,” reported Koeman.

“It is difficult for the player but for everybody because he is total back and no problems and now it is a different injury. It takes the boy down mentally and it is difficult because all we can do is give total support to the player.”

Rodriguez’s knee injury, sustained in April 2014, at first seemed as if it would be a routine ACL operation that would keep him out for six-nine months.

But the knee got infected and he required further surgery, and a long period of rehabilitation.

Rodriguez worked tirelessly to get himself back to full fitness again and had made 12 appearances this season, scoring three times – once in the Europa League and twice against MK Dons in the Capital One Cup.

Koeman faces a challenge now in trying to keeps up Rodriguez’s spirits up, and to try and get him up for another fight to regain fitness.

“It is a step back because he was fighting to get back to his level,” explained Koeman.

“The player likes to be on the pitch and to be part of the team and because he’s not that’s difficult.”