AGUSTIN DELGADO would one day like to return "home" to St Mary's.

Talking for the first time since his controversial spell at Saints officially came to an end earlier this month, the Ecuadorian insisted that he still believes his game is well suited to English football and that he could succeed in the Premiership.

"I would always be ready to return to St Mary's, I felt at home there," he said.

In recent months, Delgado has quadrupled his tally of two goals for Saints with six for Ecuadorian club side Aucas on the way to winning the championship, and then two for his country in the World Cup qualifiers.

He has also now declared himself 100 per cent fit following almost three years of persistent knee and back injuries.

But Delgado admitted he regretted not performing better for Saints and said he wished he had learnt English more quickly when arriving at St Mary's back in November 2001.

He also believes he would have benefited from having the first operation on his knee carried out in the United States.

Yet despite all the problems he caused, Delgado had words of thanks for the support he received from Saints chairman Rupert Lowe.

The 29-year-old cost Saints £3.2m, but started just five games, with ten substitute appearances.