BURNLEY-born Jay Rodriguez will be sidelined for around six months due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, Southampton confirmed last night.

The 24-year-old suffered the injury on Saturday when he landed awkwardly during the Saints’ 4-1 defeat at Manchester City in the Premier League.

Rodriguez will now miss the rest of the season as well as this summer's World Cup in Brazil where he was expected to be part of the England squad.

"Jay has asked us to pass on his gratitude to everybody who has shown him their concern and sympathy," Southampton executive director Les Reed said.

Rodriguez has already met a specialist knee surgeon. He will be having a routine operation shortly, Reed also confirmed.

It is the same injury as Burnley hitman Sam Vokes suffered late last month.