AGUSTIN DELGADO has amazingly confirmed he hopes to play in Ecuador's international against Peru next week.

The controversial striker is planning to travel back to South America for the game next Wednesday - before he has even returned to full training with Southampton after summer surgery on a back injury.

Only last week, Saints' official website said: "He will initially work with the reserves but will be a long way off match fitness and Saints will not rush him into playing to avoid any more costly relapses."

But Ecuador manager Hernan Dario Gomez clearly believes his star player- nicknamed Tin Man - could be fit to feature against Peru next week in the capital city of Quito.

Delgado today also made clear his ambition of breaking back into the Saints team after nearly a year out of action.

He told the Daily Echo: "My knee is fine, my back is fixed now. I feel better than I have felt in a long time.

"I want to play competitive football on the reserves, to work my way back into the team. I hope my coach gives me the opportunity to play.

"I am also returning to the national team now and hope to play some against Peru.

"Coach Gomez has called me to tell me that he and the team want me to play, and that's a big honour for me."

The timing of Delgado's return to the international fold is sure to arouse suspicion.

Shortly after becoming the club's most expensive ever striker in a £3.2m deal, he played in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay to secure Ecuador's qualification for their first-ever finals despite Saints' wishes that he should rest a knee injury.

The 28-year-old was then given time to rest and played in all of Ecuador's World Cup matches - scoring against Mexico - before then returning late for Saints' pre-season training because of his knee injury.

In two years at Saints, Delgado has scored two goals in only four starts.

He said: "These have been two of the hardest years of my life because of the frustration I have had with my injuries.

"I came here full of desire with Kleber Chala and then was unable to show what I can do.

"Now I have put all that behind me and serve notice that I am ready to play and contribute to Saints in the English Premier League if they need me.

"The fans have been terrific. Very supportive of me as has the club. I know they want me to do well here and, believe me, so do I.

"More than anybody else, I want to show the club that I can make the difference at Saints."

Delgado plans to arrive in Ecuador next Tuesday and will then be examined by the medical team.

A spokesman for the Ecuadorian Football Federation confirmed: "Gomez, the coach, has decided to call Delgado and, at the moment he arrives in Ecuador, he will be seen by the doctor of the national team.

"The doctor will decide if the player is in the right condition for playing or not."

Saints will also be watching carefully this Saturday to see if Marian Pahars is drafted into the starting line-up for Latvia's Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey - despite being out of first-team action with injury for a year.