Southampton boss Ronald Koeman believes Jay Rodriguez is closing in on an England return.

The striker was on the brink of being named in England's World Cup squad when he suffered a sickening knee injury in April last year.

Koeman said: "To be a candidate you win with how you play for your club.

"He's showing his qualities and we know and Jay by himself knows he was a long time out of real competition and you need time to come back on your level.

"Little by little he's more close to 100 per cent.

"At this moment he gives competition to other players up front. That's best to have because strikers like to play good football but mostly they look to score goals."