JAY Rodriguez is ready to write a new chapter, professionally and personally.

The Burnley-born ex-Claret this week signed a new four-year deal with Southampton.

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And it is not the only step the striker will take to secure his future, as he prepares to marry fiancee Simone Lee in their native north west next month.

“It’s something to look forward to and a nice way to end what has been a difficult year,” said the 25-year-old. “It’s a good time for us now, for me and Simone, and our family and friends.

“We’ve had a tough time, but these are the years that make you stronger.

“We’ve come a long way really.”

But there is still so much ahead for Rodriguez. While he is looking forward to a summer of cementing his love and celebrating, at the same time he is not yet ready for this season to end. Not until he makes his return to first team action.

“I need to be involved in an Under-21s game. There is one next week so hopefully that will happen and then who knows. But I feel really good at the moment. It’s just about getting match fitness.”

Rodriguez was applauded back onto the training field when he returned to first team sessions last month.

“I just wanted to get on with training so I didn’t expect it, but it was really nice of them to do that. I was just glad to be back,” he said.

“It can be quite lonely when you’re injured so it’s been nice to have that support, and now I’m hoping to get some minutes on the pitch before the end of the season.

“Then I’ll be in for a few weeks to do extra stuff.

“I want to work as hard as I can to get back to form and get back scoring.

“It’s been stressful not playing. But it’s important this year that I do actually get a rest and recover and then get ready for pre-season.”

Rodriguez has a refreshingly positive mindset about his injury hell, but there is one big regret from the 2014/15.

“I wanted to come back to Turf Moor and play against Burnley this season,” he said.

“That’s one thing I’m really gutted about.

“But hopefully they will bounce back straight away.

“They’ve been very unlucky this season. They’ve played how they wanted to play and played really well. They’ve put in some great performances.

“But the Premier League is tough.

“I’m sure they will be better for the experience though and come back. They’ve got a great squad and a great manager.”

Rodriguez has been particularly impressed with Danny Ings hitting double figures in his debut Premier League season, while he hopes Sam Vokes can score his first top flight goal before the campaign is out.

“I’m sure he can do that in the next two games. I hope he does,” said Rodriguez of Vokes, his long-distance ‘rehab buddy’ after the two suffered the same injury within a fortnight of each other last March. “He worked hard to get fit and when he came back he played really well.”

As for Ings, he added: “It’s been brilliant for him to get 10 goals.

“He will be hard to replace, and it’s a shame if he goes, but these things happen - you can lose players who are in form. But they have got enough good players there to do well next season anyway.”