Jay Rodriguez has spoken of hos h is fitter, faster and stronger than before after his year long absence through injury.
Speaking to BBC Radio Solent Jay Rodriguez has spoken of how he feels he will be a better player than before when he finally makes his long awaited return from the injury suffered at Manchester City nearly 14 months ago. And it seems that it is not just physically that Rodriguez is stronger but mentally as well.
"I've got stronger mentally, because it's been a tough time," He told the radio station.
"Physically I've improved my stats. That's what I wanted to get out of this. I've improved my speed and strength."
"It's not been the best but it could have been a lot worse, I've got great friends and family that have stuck by me and made it a lot easier. It's a testing one but it's made me stronger mentally and physically.
"I built it up to be a tough journey and I thought if I can maximise each day and work as hard as I can then that's the least I can do. I took it week by week."
It seems that Rodriguez could also still be in the running to face Manchester City ironically on the ground where he was stretchered off on April 5th last year judging by his comments.
"For me it's just another pitch, it's a great stadium and it doesn't matter to me where it happened," he said. "It doesn't bother me."
Saints fans will be delighted by this news, J Rod had to overcome the fact that some fans initially refused to warm to his play as they saw him as the replacement for fans favourite Rickie Lambert after his arrival from Burnley in the summer of 2012, he did not let it phase him but just got on with the job, he showed his mental strength back then in coming through and taking over the mantle of leading scorer in the team although he was not its central striker and now it seems that mental toughness has helped him through this difficult period in his career.
With a new contract under his belt, hopefully next season it will be like having a new player in the squad and that being the case then we can continue our progress made this season and continue to challenge for a top five spot.