CONTROVERSIAL striker Agustin Delgado wants to achieve "redemption" by appearing in the FA Cup final - if Saints get past Watford.

The Ecuadorian is close to full fitness again and now dreaming of getting on "the scoreboard of history with Saints" after infuriating fans by briefly quitting the club earlier in the year.

He has been plagued by knee and back injuries, but insists he will be fit for a possible Millennium Stadium Cup final against Arsenal - the team against whom he scored what proved to be the winner in Saints' 3-2 Premiership victory earlier in the season.

The £3.2m star said: "I had a small operation on a herniated disk in my back, and now it feels much better than it did before, so I should finally be ready pretty soon.

"It's been an unfortunate injury to get this season.

"I am now well settled in Southampton and look forward to playing in the first team very soon.

"I feel I will definitely be fit for May 17 for the final, if we qualify and if the team needs me."

Delgado admits that he regularly watched the English FA Cup while growing up in Ecuador.

He said: "In Ecuador, they always showed the final on TV and I saw Arsenal and Manchester United when they won it.

"It always looked like a great event to participate in as a football player. We have a 50-50 chance to win it if we get into the final. We showed at St Mary's that we can match up well with Arsenal and if the breaks go our way we can win it."

He added: "My injuries have not permitted me to show what I can do for the team, so it would be a redemption of sorts for me to participate in the final of the Cup.

"It would be different to the World Cup. In the World Cup you represent your country and it's a great honour.

"In the FA Cup you are playing for team history and pride and I would feel grateful if I could get my name on the scoreboard of history with Saints.

"I feel positive about my future with Saints. If I can leave my injuries behind and be fully fit for the team then I will be able to show my full potential." Saints, meanwhile, have rejected claims from Ecuador that they tried to rush Delgado back from his back injury too quickly.