Jay Rodriguez has expressed his delight at being able to mark his return to the Southampton starting eleven with a goal at Middlesbrough.
The 27-year-old put Saints ahead just before the break at the Riverside, before Nathan Redmond then added a second just before the hour mark.
“That’s what I aim to do,” explained Rodriguez.
“I work every day in training and when I am not playing I do extra work to ensure I keep ticking over.
“Obviously it is frustrating when you aren’t playing but I am pleased with how I have conducted myself and been able to come back into the team.”
Despite the two-goal lead, recently relegated Middlesbrough did find a way back into the match when Patrick Bamford headed in on 72 minutes.
And Rodriguez admitted there was a sense of frustration that Saints hadn’t been able to kill the game off by that point.
“We are disappointed with that,” he continued.
“We could have had many more goals but it happens and Middlesbrough found some momentum so fair play to them.
“But I thought we dug deep and there were big performances across the pitch, which was important at that late stage.”
Share this: