Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has insisted that he will not bring Jay Rodriguez back into the first-team fold until he is 100% fit.
The England forward has not played since rupturing his anterior cruciate knee ligament in April.
He was expected to make his return around the New Year, but Koeman is under no pressure to meet that timeframe as he feels that it is imperative that Rodriguez is fully ready when he makes his comeback.
"If you said he will be fit on this date or in Decemeber, it's difficult," he said a press conference today.
"It was a tough injury and he needs time and the most important is that he will come back 100%. We are not running to make him fit after six months. Maybe it will be January, maybe it will be February.
"We have to wait. The most important is that Jay will come back to play football."
Rodriguez, who scored 17 goals in all competitions for the Saints last season, has been constantly linked with a January move to reunite with former manager Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur.
Joe Fish
