Ronald Koeman is optimistic of keeping hold of Jay Rodriguez this summer, but has admitted it will be hard to retain Nathaniel Clyne.

Rodriguez is due to return to elements of first team training next week after a year out through injury, with Koeman hoping he may be able to make a fleeting first team appearance at the end of the season.

Clyne is expected to be recalled to the side to face Stoke at the weekend after being left on the bench in the win over Hull.

Both players have little over a year left on their Saints contracts, and have been heavily linked with moves away from the club this summer.

“Of course I expect we don’t sell the player,” said Koeman of Rodriguez.

“The player didn’t play in my first season as a manager.

“He’s a good guy, a positive one and a good player and maybe that will be the best transfer what we can do for the next season.”

Saints remain in talks over a new contract with Clyne, with Koeman saying he wants an answer by the end of April or the beginning of May, but accepts holding onto him may prove difficult, especially if the club are not in the Champions League.

“Maybe that can be an influence in his final decision but I think always players need to have aspiration,” reflected Koeman.

“We hope one day we will compare to the big ones but that’s difficult and we know our level, we know our possibilities and still the club can’t fight against big teams in the Premier League because the money and the possibilities of them are still much higher than we have.”

He added: “We don’t wait til the end of the season because you know if there is a player who is left one season of his contract then you have to do something.

“Of course we have to do everything to keep the player in the team but I like to know it as soon as possible.”

Having Rodriguez back in any shape or form would be a huge boost and Koeman smiled: “I hope that he can be part in one or maybe the last one. Maybe it will be on one side a tough one because the last one is Man City and he got this injury against them.

“That will be nice to end the season but the focus has to be next season and if he is part of one or two games this season it will be great for him, great for the team, great for the club.

“He is putting everything to get back but we are not in a hurry. If he comes back he has to be 100 per cent and that’s most important.”