Jay Rodriguez believes he has staked a claim to be a regular front man for Southampton, after his two goals against Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup. The Southern Daily Echo reports.

Rodriguez was signed from Burnley for £7million in the summer, but has primarily been used on the left-flank by Nigel Adkins this season.

The host of new signings at St Mary’s has also limited game time for Rodriguez, who started against Manchester City and Wigan, but has been on the bench for the club’s other League matches.

The 23-year-old admitted his frustrations at being in and out of the first team, but insists that the overall performance of the side is more important.

He said: “It has been very frustrating but in the same sense you are really happy in how the last result was,” referring to Saturday’s 4-1 defeat of Aston Villa – Saints’ first Premier League win this season.

But his two goals on Tuesday could go some way for Rodriguez to turn a corner after his difficult start to life on the south coast.

“To get on the pitch is great and to get that amount of minutes is great. I just want to play and to get the two goals was brilliant so I am really chuffed.

“It was nice to get my first goal for the club. It’s a nice feeling to score, especially at St Mary's”, he added.