JAY Rodriguez is ready to put his injury hell behind him, as he prepares to travel with the Saints first-team squad to Manchester City this weekend.

The forward is finally on the verge of a return to action, after more than a year out, although time is nearly up to make his comeback this season.

There remains only an outside chance that Rodriguez will feature in Sunday's final match of the campaign - at the same ground where he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in April 2014 - but he at least expects to travel with the team for the first time since he was sidelined.

"I think, obviously, I will travel with the squad, just to be amongst the lads," said the 25-year-old.

"It will be my first away trip of the season, but, obviously, I'm not too sure if I will be in the [matchday] squad or not.

"It's just a case of see how this week goes and to not rush anything really.

"It's just a case of getting some time, some training time with the lads and see what happens."

Rodriguez expects it to be an emotional moment when he does return, but he will try to put that to the back of his mind when it happens.

"Obviously, it would mean a lot to me," he said.

"That's where I wanted to be, but I think I'm just going to treat it as I treated it when I was playing last season - it's just a game and if I can affect the game as much as I can that's what I'll be focusing on, rather than any sentimental thing.

"It will just be a case of doing my job and trying to score as many goals [as I can]."

A lot will be made of the venue if he does step onto the pitch this Sunday, but Rodriguez insists that would add nothing to the occasion for him.

"No, for me it's just a pitch that you play football on," he said.

"Obviously, it's a great stadium, but it won't really mean anything to me."

It seems almost cruel that the season is ending just as Rodriguez completes his long journey back to fitness, but he is philosophical about it.

"It is a little bit [frustrating]," he said. "You know, you run out of time.

"If this were mid-season you'd be a lot happier, because you know you're going to be playing.

"But I think maybe the break will do me good as well. It's been a long, hard year, working hard, so maybe the time away will do me good and then refresh myself ready for pre-season."

Rodriguez added: "Physically, I've improved all my stats from what I did when I was fit, so I've ticked them boxes and now it's just a case of ticking the boxes of being sharp with the ball and without the ball in a match situation.

"For me, I've done everything I can physically to do that. Now, I'm just really excited to go and play."