In his most recent press conference ahead of Sunday’s game against West Ham, Southampton boss Claude Puel has given some injury updates for his squad, the club’s official site can report.

It’s well known that Jay Rodriguez has been excluded from the matchday squad for the last couple of games against Swansea City in the Premier League and Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup respectively, but Puel has now stated that the striker has undergone surgery on his groin area in Germany.

Rodriguez has a groin injury, but I think we will see him after the international break.

It’s not a big injury, but it’s important to keep all the squad with good health and I hope he can come back after the international period.

Puel didn’t give a specific return date for Rodriguez but did outline hopes that the forward would be back in action after October’s international break against his former club Burnley.

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Also, new signing Sofiane Boufal is taking more steps in his recovery to match fitness, with Puel stating that he expects the Moroccan to start first team training after the international break, like Rodriguez.

Sofiane is making very good progress, and I think perhaps he will come back in the training sessions with the group and the squad in the international period.

He is working very well, with intensity and without problem, and this is good news.

Boufal has been nursing a meniscus tear that he sustained at the end of last season and Saints fans are yet to see the club record signing in action.